BX  7260   .S5  S5x  1849 
Sherman,  James,  1796-186^ 
The  pastor's  wife 


THE  PASTOR'S  WIFE, 


MEMOIR 


MES.  SHEEMAN, 

OF  SURREY  CHAPEL. 

BY   HER  HUSBAND. 


ROBERT  E.  PETERSON,  N.  W.  CORNER  FIFTH  AND  ARCH 
STREETS,  PHILADELPHIA  — ROBERT  CARTER  & 
BROTHERS,  NEW  YORK  — GOULD,  KEN- 
DALL &  LINCOLN, BOSTON. 


1849. 


stereotyped  by 
S.  DOUGLAS  WTETH, 
No.  7  Pear  St.,  Philadelphia. 


PREFACE. 


It  is  a  ditficult  duty  for  one  tenderly  related  to 
a  beloved  saint,  to  draw  the  faithful  lineaments  of 
her  character,  and  present  a  portrait  easily  recog- 
nized by  those  who  were  favored  by  her  friend- 
ship. Ardent  affection  may  overlook  defects, 
which  others  would  record,  and  fear  of  exaggera- 
tion omit  excellencies,  which  deserve  to  be  promi- 
nently exhibited.  A  looker-on  sees  more  of  the 
battle,  and  can  better  describe  the  respective  quali- 
ties of  the  parties  engaged  in  the  conflict,  than  the 
combatants  themselves ;  for,  however  each  might 
be  disposed  to  do  justice  to  the  valor  manifested  by 
his  fellow-soldier,  the  very  nearness  of  contact,  and 
limited  range  of  view,  incapacitate  them  from  de- 
scribing the  whole  operation  in  the  field  of  vision, 
which  a  spectator  enjoys.  And  it  would  have  been 
hailed  as  a  great  blessing  if  some  friend,  who  had 
known  the  dear  departed  from  early  life,  could 
have  been  found  to  present  her  living  likeness  to 
those  who  have  earnestly  solicited  some  memorials 


iv 


PREFACE. 


of  one  whom  they  so  ardently  loved,  and  whose 
faith  they  desire  to  follow.  The  materials  for  a 
Memoir,  though  scantily  preserved,  would  have 
been  quite  sufficient  in  a  practiced  and  skillful  hand, 
to  make  many  sincere  hearts  long  to  be  like  her, 
and  to  bring  great  glory  to  the  Lord,  for  the 
abundant  grace  bestowed  on  his  devoted  child. 

Yet  some  advantages  are  possessed  by  a  near  re- 
lation over  others.  If  the  spectator  of  a  battle  can 
describe  better  the  general  operations  of  an  array, 
the  man  who  stands  next  to  his  comrade,  and  fights 
with  him,  can  more  minutely  recite  his  valiant 
deeds,  his  patience  and  victory.  So  in  the  case  of 
this  precious  saint — her  husband  knew  her  best — 
had  far  greater  opportunities  than  any  of  her  friends 
of  observing  her  steady  walk  with  God — her  loving 
and  Christ-like  spirit — her  amiable  deportment  to 
all  her  circle  of  friends  or  dependents — and  her 
self-denying  and  useful  efforts  to  win  souls  to  her 
Savior.  Therefore,  though  deeply  sensible  that 
the  sketch  of  her  life  here  given  will  be  rough  and 
unfinished,  and  in  no  degree  worthy  of  its  subject, 
he  believes  it  will  possess  greater  advantages  than 
if  written  by  a  less  intimate  acquaintance.  His 
hope — his  ardent  prayer  to  God  is,  that  He  will 
give  it  His  rich  blessing,  and  cause  many  to  follow 
her,  as  she  followed  Christ  her  Lord. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Birth — Her  Mother's  judicious  Training — Contrast  be- 
tween the  two  Sisters — Sweetness  of  Temper — Natural 
Politeness — Anecdote  of  Rev.  Matthew  Wilks — School 
— ^Musical  Talent — Power  of  Imitation      -      -      -  11 

CHAPTER  II. 

Illness  and  Death  of  her  Sister — Instrumental  in  the  Con- 
version of  two  Persons — Her  own  Decision  for  Christ — 
Letter  on  Union  with  the  Church — Death  of  her  Young 
Friend — Her  own  Serious  Illness  and  Recovery  -       -  21 

CHAPTER  III. 

Marriage — First  Impressions  on  Settling  at  Reading — 
Difficulties  in  the  Sunday-School — Maternal  Society — 
Visit  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Codman — Visit  to  the  Poor — 
Providential  Escape — Serious  Illness  of  Herself  and 
Husband — Erection  of  Chapel  at  W. — Fancy  Sale — In- 
vitation to  Surrey  Chapel — Mixed  Feelings  on  leaving 
Reading   -      •      -      -  ....  33 


1^ 


vi 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Removal  to  London — Sketch  of  the  Origin  ol"  Surrey  Cha- 
pel— Her  Interest  in  the  Societies  already  established 
there — Commencement  of  Sabbath  Bible  Class — Young 
Ladies  request  the  Formation  of  a  similar  Class — Fears 
and  Hopes  respecting  it — Letter  to  a  Young  Lady  who 
had  lost  a  Sister — To  two  Sisters  on  Exalted  Piety— To 
one  wishing  to  become  a  Sunday-School  Teacher — To 
one  at  School — To  one  whom  God  had  chosen  from  a 
Worldly  Family — To  a  Friend  on  her  Birth-day — Joy 
that  her  Efforts  had  been  Blessed — Building  new  School 
Rooms — Fancy  Sale — Letter  inviting  co-operation 

CHAPTER  V. 

Formation  of  Maternal  Association — Birth  of  her  Eldest 
Daughter — Difficulties  and  Anxieties  respecting  the  As- 
sociation— Formation  of  a  similar  one  for  the  Poor — 
Address  to  the  Poor  Mothers — Rules  for  the  Association 
— Letters  to  the  Mothers  


CHAPTER  VI. 

Proposed  Journey  to  Griifenberg — Arrival  at  Ostend — 
Brussels — Liege — Cologne — Bonn — The  Rhine — Roder- 
burg — Andernach — Neuwied — Coblentz — Boppart — 
Mayence — Dr.  Pinkerton — Christian  Intercourse  with 
Fellow-traveller — Leipsic — Dresden — Son  placed  at 
School  there — Herrnhutt — Moravian  Worship — Hart- 
mann — Gnadenberg — Gorlitz—Breslau— Gratifying  Tes- 
timony to  the  Integrity  of  the  Herrnhutters — Freiwal- 
dau — Record  of  her  Feelings  on  arriving  at  Grafen- 
berg  


CONTENTS. 


vii 


CHAPTER  VII 

Grafenberg — Water  Cure — Bigotry  of  the  Austrian  Go- 
vernment— Influence  of  Popery — Temptations  to  which 
Travellers  are  Exposed — Description  of  Place  and  Peo- 
ple— Patients — Character  of  M  Priesnitz — Profanation 
of  the  Sabbath — Public  Worship  in  the  Cottage — Police 
Interference — Service  Continued — Encouragement — 
Invalid  Clergyman — Irreligion  and  Gaiety  of  some  of 
the  Patients — Difliculty  of  Introducing  Bibles — Suc- 
ceeds in  Obtaining  one — Joy  and  Gratitude  of  the  Land- 
lady— Scene  at  Catholic  Feast — Enthusiasm  and  Hope 
Respecting  the  Water-Cure — Various  Instances  of  its 
Success — Dinner  in  Honor  of  Queen  Victoria's  Birth- 
Day — Ignorance  of  the  Scriptures  throughout  Austria — 
Oratorie — The  Cistus — May  Meetings — Eclipse  of  the 
Sun — Visions  of  Home — Sympathy  of  Friends  at  Sur- 
rey— Last  Public  Service  at  Grafenberg — Public  Din- 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Her  Daughter  Selina  Left  at  Grafenberg — Interesting  Inci- 
dent at  the  Presentation  of  a  German  Bible — Hansdorfl^ — 
Vienna — Linz — Gmunden — Royal  Party— Teetotalism 
—Hallstadt— Protestant  Pastor— Waterfall  at  GoUing — 
Salt  Mine  at  Hallein — Salzburg — Superstitious  Ceremo- 
nies at  Cathedral — Lake  of  Konigsee — Interesting  In- 
cident at  Soil — Innspruck — Tomb  of  Maximilian — Pass 
of  the  Arlberg — Hospice — Feldkirch — Service  on  Sab- 
bath—Baths of  PfefFers— The  Tamina— Via  Mala— 
The  Bernardin — Belinzona — Urseren — Devil's  Bridge 
— The  Teufelstein— Lake  of  Lucerne— The  Rigid — 
Pilatus — The  Oberland — Lake — Pass  of  the  Grimsel — 
The  Cataract  of  the  Aar — Providential  Deliverance — 
Glacier  of  the  Rhone — Baths  of  Rosenlaui — Grindel- 
wald — Waiting  Maid — Wengera  Alp— Avalanches  of 
the  Jungfrau — Staubbach — Berne — Freyberg — Lau- 


viii 


CONTENTS. 


saime  Tete  Noire — Chamouni— Mont  Blanc— Mer  de 
Glace — Geneva — Dr.  Malan — Neuchatel — Basle — 
Strasburg — Cologne— Rotterdam — Emotions  on  Reach- 
ing England   170 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Death  of  her  Daughter  Selina — Affecting  Letter  from 
Rev.  A.  Stewart — Her  Anxiety  that  the  Event  should 
be  Improved  to  her  Classes — Funeral  Sermon — Letter 
to  a  Young  Friend  in  Lancashire,  urging  Immediate 
Decision — Adopts  a  little  Seminole  Indian — His  His- 
tory— Marriage  of  her  Eldest  Daughter — Birth  of  her 
Youngest  Child— Letter  to  her  Eldest  Child— To  her 
Mamma,  Comforting  her  in  a  Season  of  Dejection — Ill- 
ness of  her  Babe — Death  of  Her  Mother — Interest  in 
the  various  Religious  Institutions — Extracts  from  Let- 
ters— On  Ascribing  Glory  to  Man,  rather  than  God — 
On  Tempering  Zeal  with  Humility — On  the  Scriptural 
Warrant  for  Taking  an  Oath — Consolation  to  one  of  her 
Class  in  the  Hospital — To  one  who  Wished  to  Become  a 
Missionary — On  Self-Examination — On  Obedience  to 
Parents  only  "  in  the  Lord" — Formation  of  Missionary 
Working  Party — Specimen  of  Notes  of  Invitation — 
Formation  of  another  Missionary  AVorking  Party — 
Meeting  to  Consider  Objections — Letter  to  her  Class, 
Informing  them'of  the  Result       ....  223 

CHAPTER  X. 

Commencement  of  Illness — Winter  Residence  at  Brighton 
— Letter  to  a  Young  Lady,  on  the  Duty  of  taking  Care  of 
her  Health— Extracts  from  Letters— Thanks  to  a  Friend 
for  acts  of  Kindness— To  the  Maternal  Association— To 
her  Father's  Servant— To  a  Young  Lady  who  had  un- 
dertaken a  Class  of  Jewish  Children— Believing  Hopes 
respecting  her  own  Children— Return  to  London— Con- 
tinued Illness— Consultation  of  Physicians— Visit  to 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


Ventnor — Extract  from  her  Memorandum  Book — St. 
Boniface  Hotel — Establishes  a  Maternal  Society — In- 
terest in  a  Young  Widow — Persevering  and  Successful 
Eflbrts— Conversation  with  the  Servants — Liquidates 
the  Debt  of  the  Chapel— State  of  her  Health— Letter  to 
a  Young  Friend  in  the  North — Hopes  of  Final  Recovery  272 


CHAPTER  XL 

Departure  for  Silesia — Arrival  at  Ostend — Cologne — Cob- 
lentz— Sabbath— Biberich— Wiesbaden— The  Kur  Saal 
— Leipsic — Dresden — Ottawalder  Grund — The  Bastei 
— Konigstein — English  Church— The  Communion — 
— Bautzen — Hirschberg — Buchwald — The  Countess 
Reden  and  her  Sister — Family  Worship — Visit  of  Prince 
William  and  his  Son  Prince  Waldemar — The  Abbey 
and  Pavilion — Wang — Schmiedeburg — Consults  Dr. 
Weigel — Bohemian  Catholic — Fishbach — Warmbrunn 
— The  Rettunghaus — Princess  Reus — The  Tyrolese  Pro- 
testants— Sir  J.  Riddel! — Baron  Reidesel — Departure 
from  Buchwald — Wittenberg — Berlin — Charlottenberg 
— Her  husband's  Visit  to  the  King  of  Piussia — Rauch, 
the  Sculptor-  Orphan  School — Kindness  of  the  King — 
Potzdam — Magdeburg —  Brunswick —  Hamburg  Eng- 
lish Reformed  Church — Embark  for  England       -  290 


CHAPTER  XIL 

Increased  Illness — Visit  to  Enfield — Resigns  her  Bible 
Classes — Letter  to  a  Lady  on  the  Unjust  Prosecution  of 
her  Husband — On  the  Return  of  her  Wedding-Day — 
Thanks  for  a  Present — Visit  to  St.  Leonard's — Depres- 
sion of  Mind — Extracts  of  Letters — To  her  Husband — 
To  her  Father — To  a  City  Missionary  on  the  Death  of 
his  Wife — To  a  Young  Friend,  stirring  her  up  to  Spirit- 
ual Activity — On  Submission  to  the  Divine  Will — Ex- 
ertions to  Procure  an  English  Governess  for  the  Countess 


X 


CONTENTS. 


S  ,  — Return  to  London — Extracts  from  Letters 

— On  Judging  Uncharitably — On  being  Prevented  from 
Attending  Evening  Worship — Peaceful  Acquiescence 
and  Confidence  in  God — To  a  Sunday-School  Teacher — 
On  the  Death  of  a  Young  Person — On  the  Formation  of 
a  Select  Class  for  Children — Winter  Residence  at  Hast- 
ings—Relief  from  Mental  Depression — Ministerial  Visits 
— Calmness  with  which  she  received  Dr.  Moore's  opi- 
nion of  Immediate  Danger — Return  Home       -       -  341 


CHAPTER  Xin. 

Farewell  Interviews — Sabbath  Class — Poor  Maternal — 
Ladies'  Maternal — Young  Ladies'  Bible  Class — Visits 
of  Rev.  George  Clayton — Memoranda  of  Last  Illness — 
Dr.  MacLean  Consulted — London  Missionary  Sermon — 
Interview  with  Rev.  J.  A.  James  and  others — Mission- 
ary Communion — Last  Moments — Funeral — Funeral 
Sermons — Poetic  Description  of  Funeral  Scene  385 


CHAPTER  XIV 

Character — Industry — Firmness  and  Perseverance — Punc- 
tuality— Freedom  from  Selfishness — Condescension — 
Humility — Love  to  all  the  People  of  God — Fervent 
Piety — Unconscious  Influence        ...       -  4-21 


MEMOIK. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FROM  HER  BIRTH  TO  HER  CONVERSION. 

The  beloved  subject  of  this  Memoir  was  born  at 
Kentish  Town,  on  September  14th,  1806.  Her 
father,  Benjamin  Tucker,  Esq.,  long  known  as  the 
friend  to  ministers  of  Christ's  holy  gospel,  of  all 
denominations,  and  to  the  establishment  of  his  king- 
dom on  earth,  had  retired  from  active  business,  and 
devoted  himself  chiefly  to  aid  and  carry  on  the 
worship  of  God  in  the  vicinity  in  which  he  lived. 
Her  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Page,  Esq., 
to  whose  munificence  the  poor  of  the  town  of  Ba- 
singstoke are  much  indebted  for  the  erection  and 
endowment  of  some  alms-houses  for  pious  aged 
women. 

Her  parents  had  two  daughters,  Mary,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  and  Martha,  whose  his- 
tory we  now  record.  It  was  her  privilege  to  have 
a  mother,  to  whose  piety  and  personal  superintend- 
ence she  was  much  indebted  for  the  formation  of 
habits  which  enriched  her  character,  and  rendered 
her  so  useful  and  acceptable  to  the  Church  of 
Christ.  Although  it  is  a  fact  unquestioned  by  all 
who  revere  the  Avord  of  truth,  that  the  most  efficient 
maternal  guidance  cannot  change  the  heart,  and  re- 


12 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


new  the  nature  for  God,  without  the  gracious  influ- 
ence of  his  Spirit ;  yet,  where  a  mother  unites 
piety,  wisdom,  and  perseverance,  in  the  training  of 
her  children,  she  seldom  fails  to  draw  down  that  in- 
fluence on  her  interesting  charge. 

Education,  especially  in  the  formation  of  charac- 
ter, does  not  consist  merely  in  conveying  to  the 
mind  ethical  maxims,  useful  knowledge  and  the 
higher  branches  of  gospel  lore,  but  in  the  living  ex- 
hibition of  personal  graces — a  rigid  love  of  truth— 
a  spirit  of  prayer — a  dependence  on  divine  aid — a 
delicate  sense  of  purity — and  an  indomitable  perse- 
verance in  aiming  to  win  the  heart  to  Christ. 

These  qualities  eminently  belonged  to  Mrs. 
Tucker.  She  was  a  woman  of  quiet  but  fervent 
piety ;  her  regularity  in  retiring  for  private  devo- 
tion at  stated  times,  notwithstanding  great  personal 
indisposition,  was  sustained  till  within  a  few  days 
of  her  decease ;  her  love  of  punctuality,  neatness, 
and  order,  prevailed  throughout  every  engagement 
for  the  Church,  or  for  her  family  ;  her  attention  and 
liberality  to  the  poor  were  proverbial;  the  delicacy 
of  holiness  was  maintained  in  her  conversation  and 
habits  ;  and  her  constancy  in  training  her  children 
for  God,  had  its  reward  in  their  early  consecration 
to  his  service.  Beyond  this,  she  was  remarkable 
for  her  practical  good  sense,  which,  while  it  did  not 
reject  the  ornamental  part  of  education,  was  gene- 
rally directed  to  the  promotion  of  some  useful  ob- 
ject of  life. 

The  value  of  such  a  mother  is  not  always  seen 
at  the  time.  She  may  not  be  showy  and  attractive 
in  her  talents,  or  ensure  the  approbation  of  the 
theorist,  but  the  patient  labor  of  a  few  years,  spent 
in  the  cultivation  of  her  infant  charge,  passes  not 
away  unobserved  by  those  who  watch  for  examples 


MEMOIR   OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


13 


of  educational  power,  and  certainly  not  unrecom- 
pensed  by  the  God  of  the  families  of  the  Earth. 
Let  not  mothers,  conscious  of  many  defects  in  the 
education  of  their  children,  fear  the  result,  if  they 
commit  their  way  often  to  the  Lord,  and  strive  to 
exhibit  the  practical  influence  of  godliness  before 
them.  Days  will  speak  of  the  effects  of  such 
training. 

Perhaps  few  sisters,  so  nearly  of  an  age,  so  sel- 
dom separated,  and  so  closely  united  in  affection, 
have  exhibited  so  complete  a  contrast  in  natural 
disposition,  and  intellectual  character,  as  Mary  and 
Martha  Tucker.  In  early  childhood,  Mary  was 
less  engaging  than  her  sister,  and  when  she  felt  the 
importance  of  self-discipline,  had  more  difficulties 
to  contend  with,  being  naturally  of  a  less  yielding 
temper;  consequently,  their  temptations  and  plea- 
sures, their  pursuits  and  amusements,  were  almost 
entirely  different.  Abstruse  reading  and  the  acqui- 
sition of  knowledge,  were  Mary's  favorite  pursuits ; 
while  to  please  and  be  pleased,  to  be  happy  her- 
self, and  to  promote  the  happiness  of  others,  was 
Martha's  highest  aim,  or  rather  the  spontaneous 
result  of  her  light  and  buoyant  spirit.  It  must  be 
confessed,  that  her  love  of  play  sometimes  prevented 
her  from  applying  with  sufficient  diligence  to  her 
various  studies,  but  while  the  masters  who  attended 
them,  found  their  gravity  sometimes  overcome  by 
the  irresistible  and  fascinating  playfulness  of  their 
younger  pupil,  to  which  they  were  either  willingly 
yielding,  or  in  vain  attempting  to  subdue ;  the  elder 
undisturbed,  was  steadily  pursuing  her  studies,  in 
the  acquisition  of  which,  she  needed  rather  a  rein 
than  a  spur. 

Mary's  natural  reserve,  and,  perhaps,  conscious 
superiority  of  intellect,  made  her  at  times  appear 
2 


14  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

distant  to  strangers,  though  to  her  chosen  friends, 
her  affection  was  warm,  strong,  and  lasting.  Mar- 
tha could  repel  none;  an  extended  hand  could 
never  be  refused,  or  a  smile  unreturned  by  her. 
"I  love  every  body,  and  every  body  loves  me," 
seemed  to  be  the  language  of  her  confiding,  happy 
temper.  The  tremulous  frame  alone,  would  betray 
the  inward  agitation  from  which  Mary  was  at  any 
time  suffering ;  while  Martha  would  pour  forth  her 
childish  sorrows,  into  the  first  sympathizing  bosom 
that  presented  itself.  An  act  of  condescension  per- 
formed by  Mary,  was  the  result  of  principle — her 
first  impulse  being  to  receive,  rather  than  bestow 
homage — while  a  pin  dropped  by  an  inferior  would 
be  immediately  picked  up  by  Martha,  who  seemed 
impelled  intuitively  to  pay  attention  to  another, 
neither  asking  nor  expecting  a  return. 

Let  it  not,  however,  be  supposed,  that  the  one 
was  unamiable,  or  the  other  frivolous;  whatever 
tendency  there  might  be  in  either  to  such  disposi- 
tions, was  effectually  checked  by  their  judicious 
training,  and  as  they  traveled  on  side  by  side  in 
their  singularly  happy  and  joyous  course,  it  would 
have  been  diflScult  to  say  which  was  most  loved  or 
most  admired,  since  though  the  instruments  upon 
which  they  played  were  so  different,  no  jarring 
sound  was  heard,  but  tones  of  harmony  and  love, 
which  cheered  and  delighted  a  large  circle  of  ad- 
miring friends.  Their  difference  of  character  pro- 
duced on  Martha's  lowly  mind  that  effect  which 
difference  of  years  alone  usually  produces;  and  she 
looked  up  to  her  sister,  only  twenty  months  older 
than  herself,  with  as  much  deference,  as  if  she  had 
been  her  senior,  by  so  many  years. 

In  childhood  and  early  youth,  Martha  (or  as  she 
was  always  called  Patty)  Tucker  was  not  exempt 


MEMOIR  Ol'  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


15 


from  many  of  the  usual  faults  and  foibles  of  that 
age,  or  free  from  that  "foolishness,"  which  Scrip- 
ture and  experience  show,  "  is  bound  up  in  the  heart 
of  every  child,"  and,  perhaps,  did  not  materially 
differ  from  her  young  companions,  except  in  a  more 
than  usual  volatility  of  spirits,  and  in  a  remarka- 
ble sweetness  of  temper.  Her  countenance  was 
never  disfigured  by  the  pout  of  ill-humor,  or  the 
scowl  of  discontent,  but  was  always  smooth  and 
serene,  as  the  placid  temper  of  which  it  was  the 
faithful  index.  Those  beautiful  lines  of  Cowper, 
might  with  strict  propriety  be  applied  to  her — 

"  Thy  constant  flow  of  love,  which  knew  no  fall; 
Ne'er  roughen'd  by  those  cataracts  and  breaks, 
Which  humor  interposed  too  often  makes." 

So  completely  and  constantly  was  her  smooth  and 
open  brow  thus  unruffled,  that  she  has  been  asked 
playfully  to  frown,  to  show  whether  such  an  ex- 
pression was  possible.  Whenever  her  eye  met  the 
eye  of  another,  it  was  invariably  lighted  up  by  a 


Patty  in  a  place  of  worship,  for  she  is  sure  to 
smile,  look  at  her  when  and  where  you  may."  Nor 
was  this  the  smile  of  mere  placidity  or  indifference. 
Her  good  humor  was  an  active  principle ;  she  was 
ever  the  first  to  assist  or  do  a  kind  office,  ever  the 
first  to  yield  precedence  to  another.  Well  can  one 
who  knew  her  from  childhood  remember,  how  she 
was  at  all  times  ready  and  willing,  literally  to  be 
"the  last  of  all,  and  the  servant  of  all."  Many  in- 
stances might  be  mentioned,  trifling  indeed  in  them- 
selves, yet  it  is  the  large  aggregate  of  such  little 
things,  that  makes  up  half  the  happiness  of  domes- 
tic life. 

Being  one  of  a  party  assembled  for  the  purpose 


smile,  and  it  was 


16 


THE  pastor's  wifk;  or 


of  seeing  several  Exhibitions,  while  all  were  eagerly 
pressing  forward,  anxious  to  obtain  the  best  place, 
and  the  best  view,  Patty  might  always  be  seen  be- 
hind, as  they  passed  from  room  to  room,  trying  to 
get  a  peep  when  and  how  she  could,  and  showing 
by  her  patient  but  persevering  efl'orts,  that  she  was 
not  in  the  back  ground  from  indifference  to  the 
pleasure  the  sight  afforded,  but  from  her  readiness 
to  yield  to  the  equally  eager,  but  more  selfish  anx- 
iety of  her  companions.  Another  trait  of  her  child- 
hood should  not  be  omitted — her  natural  politeness. 
While  few  have  exceeded,  or,  perhaps,  equalled 
her,  in  her  fondness  for  play  and  sports  of  every 
kind,  yet  even  in  her  most  playful  days,  a  stranger 
calling,  or  a  guest  staying  at  her  father's  hospita- 
ble house,  was  sure  of  receiving  the  most  minute 
attentions  from  little  Patty, — at  the  same  time  these 
were  the  attentions  of  a  child ;  as  far  removed  from 
the  womanly  forwardness  of  some,  as  from  the  awk- 
ward shyness  of  others.  The  Rev.  Matthew  Wilks, 
happening  to  call  one  day,  when  Patty,  then  a  very 
little  child,  was  alone  in  the  dining-room,  she  placed 
a  chair  for  him,  took  his  hat,  and  persuaded  him  to 


tion  till  her  mamma's  return.  When  Mrs.  Tucker 
came  in,  the  old  gentleman  told  her  how  much  he 
had  been  indebted  to  the  kind  attentions  of  her  lit- 
tle daughter,  adding,  as  he  patted  her  on  the 
shoulder,  "You  are  the  first  young  lady,  that  has 
taken  a  fancy  to  my  old  face." 

When  she  had  attained  thirteen  years  of  age,  her 
parents  determined  to  send  her  from  home  for  edu- 
cation, and  she  was  placed  with  a  friend  at  Hack- 
ney for  a  short  time.  It  was  thought  that  mixing 
with  young  ladies  of  various  dispositions  and  habits, 
would  tend  to  improve  her  character,  and  test  her 


take  some  refreshment, 


him  in  conversa- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  17 

temper ;  while  she  would  gain  such  a  knowledge  of 
her  fellow-probationers  for  another  world,  as  it 
was  impossible  to  attain  under  her  father's  roof. 
Her  simple  manners  and  amiable  spirit,  gained  her 
the  universal  love  of  all  her  school-fellows.  Some 
of  the  more  selfish  and  less  thoughtful,  would  ex- 
periment upon  her  generosity,  by  asking  her  to  do 
something  for  them  which  they  did  not  really  re- 
quire, in  order  to  see  if  she  could  possibly  refuse ; 
but  at  whatever  sacrifice  of  comfort  or  convenience, 
if  it  was  represented  as  an  act  that  would  save  them 
trouble,  or  afford  them  pleasure,  she  was  never 
known  in  a  single  instance  to  deny  their  request. 
It  will  easily  be  conceived  that,  with  an  engaging 
person  and  manners  which  led  to  her  being  always 
introduced  on  the  arrival  of  company,  with  spirits 
buoyant  and  untiring,  and  with  a  temper  so  yield- 
ing and  kind,  school  was  not  the  most  likely  place 
to  forward  her  education.  The  discovery  was 
made,  that  whatever  knowledge  she  might  gain  in 
associating  with  larger  numbers  of  her  own  age  and 
station,  a  loss  was  sustained  of  general  information, 
which  a  mother's  watchful  attentions  could  alone 
supply,  and  even  they  seemed  insufficient  to  fix  so 
playful  a  mind  upon  useful  and  important  lessons. 
It  was  feared,  and  often  occasioned  much  grief  to 
her  mother,  that  all  the  labor  of  education  would 
be  lost  upon  her — nothing  seemed  to  remain  in  the 
memory,  and  as  to  the  correct  repetition  of  a  task, 
carelessness  and  playfulness  seemed  to  render  it  a 
thing  utterly  impossible.  Latter  years,  however, 
proved  that  the  seed  sown  was  not  lost — the  sub- 
stance of  all  that  was  taught  her  was  preserved, 
and  the  memory,  which  was  thought  to  be  so  de- 
fective, became  by  exercise  one  of  the  most  reten- 
tive her  husband  ever  knew.  Parents  must  not 
2* 


18  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

allow  themselves  to  grieve  if  their  children  do  not 
excel  in  such  branches  of  education  as  they  fondly 
dream  may  best  adapt  them  for  life.  The  playful- 
ness and  buoyancy  which  are  so  difficult  to  control 
and  fix  on  important  subjects,  may  be  the  necessary 
qualifications  for  sustaining  difficulties  and  perform- 
ing duties  which  God  has  designed  for  them  in  after 
life — a  part  of  the  discipline  and  preparation  of  an 
All-wise  mind  who  foresees  and  foreknows  all  they 
shall  be  and  suffer.  Rather  let  them  be  most 
anxious  about  their  moral  and  spiritual  training,  to 
root  in  their  hearts  gospel  maxims,  and  form  their 
characters  after  the  model  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  in 
due  season  they  shall  reap,  if  they  faint  not. 

Considerable  musical  talent  developed  itself  in 
Martha  from  her  childhood.  When  not  able  to 
reach  the  keys  of  the  piano  without  standing  on 
her  toes,  she  picked  out,  untaught,  the  tunes  she 
heard  in  the  streets,  and  often  interested  her  pa- 
rents and  friends  by  her  constant  readiness  to  amuse 
them  with  her  little  stock  of  musical  knowledge. 
By  tuition  and  practice  she  became  a  great  profi- 
cient, both  in  taste  and  execution.  Her  musical 
memory  was  prodigious ;  after  once  learning  a  com- 
position she  never  used  notes,  and  retained  it  with 
accuracy  as  long  as  her  fingers  were  able  to  move 
the  keys.  O!  how  has  she  calmed  the  troubled 
spirit  of  her  husband,  w^hen  pressed  with  duty  and 
care,  by  the  plaintive  and  joyous  notes  of  her  grace- 
ful hand,  the  very  remembrance  of  which  occasions 
a  thrill  of  pleasure.  Her  sister  Mary,  who  did  not 
possess  a  correct  ear,  by  remarkable  perseverance 
and  submission  to  the  instructions  of  Martha,  at- 
tained such  correctness  and  taste  in  singing,  as  to 
charm  her  hearers. 

In  addition  to  other  peculiarities,  Martha  could 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


19 


assume  almost  any  character,  so  naturally,  as  to 
avoid  detection  by  her  most  intimate  friends.  Hear- 
ing that  one  of  them  (a  neighbor,  who  had  said  it 
was  impossible  she  could  ever  be  deceived  in  Mar- 
tha's face  and  person)  wanted  a  servant,  she  went 
to  her  in  that  capacity,  and  after  referring  to  seve- 
ral persons  whom  they  both  equally  knew,  for  her 
character,  was  dismissed,  the  lady  telling  her,  that 
she  feared,  from  her  countenance,  she  was  not  good 
tempered,  but  would  inquire  more  about  her.  She 
did  so  that  day,  and  found,  to  her  astonishment, 
that  her  young  friend  with  the  merry  face  had  over- 
matched all  her  discriminating  powers. 

Her  voice  too  was  wholly  under  her  control ;  she 
could  adapt  it  to  the  cry  of  the  infant,  or  sing  the 
deep-toned  bass  of  a  man,  while  she  laid  under 
contribution,  to  introduce  at  pleasure,  the  peculiar 
cries  of  animals  and  songs  of  birds,  so  that  it  was 
difficult  even  to  believe  they  were  not  present.  Her 
innocent  and  sparkling  wit,  and  powers  of  com- 
parison, which  seemed  to  present  themselves  with- 
out effort,  enlivened  her  conversation,  and  never 
permitted  a  gloomy  countenance  long  to  remain  in 
her  presence.  Yet  the  universal  testimony  of  all 
who  knew  her  in  her  youth  and  beauty  would  be, 
that  a  modest  and  retiring  demeanor  was  her  spe- 
cial grace.  Though  adorned  with  personal  and 
mental  attractions  which  few  possess,  nothing  was 
obtruded,  or  permitted  to  appear,  that  would  not 
minister  pleasure  to  all  her  associates. 

With  two  such  daughters,  of  equal  stature  and 
beautiful  figure,  of  varied  talents  and  engaging 
manners,  the  home  of  the  parents  was  light  ^vith 
joy  and  gladness,  and  the  promise  of  years  of  fu- 
ture felicity.  Perhaps,  no  two  young  persons, 
without  the  manifestations  of  decided  piety,  ever 


20 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


contributed  more  to  the  comfort  of  home  and  the 
gratification  of  a  select  and  valued  circle  of  friends. 
Grave  theological  professors,  as  well  as  youthful 
admirers,  found  the  moments  delightfully  glide 
away,  while  listening  to  the  dulcet  notes  and  war- 
bling voices  of  these  sweet  sisters,  and  have  left 
the  peaceful  habitation  after  a  well-spent  evening, 
the  more  refreshed  and  fitted  for  severer  studies. 
O!  what  is  like  an  English  home,  where  intelli- 
gence, piety,  cheerfulness,  and  hospitality,  combine 
to  render  it  an  earthly  Paradise. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


21 


CHAPTER  II. 

FROM  HER  CONVERSION  TO  HER   UNION  WITH  THE 
CHURCH  OF  CHRIST. 

It  would  be  difficult  for  a  person  blest  with  such 
advantages,  to  trace  the  time  when  serious  impres- 
sions of  eternal  things  first  took  their  rise  in  her 
mind.  Habituated  to  a  reverence  for  God's  word, 
to  the  observance  of  prayer,  and  to  regular  attend- 
ance on  a  gospel  ministry,  she  generally  felt  that 
pious  persons  were  right,  and  that  to  be  among 
them  would  be  her  happiness ;  but  carelessness, 
rather  than  opposition,  nurtured  indifference,  and  a 
direct  acceptance  of  Christ  was  deferred  to  a  more 
convenient  opportunity.  A  regard  for  heavenly 
things  was  evidently  cherished,  and  the  society  of 
good  men  preferred  to  those  of  a  worldly  charac- 
ter, even  in  her  days  of  indecision ;  still  her  heart 
was  a  stranger  to  that  vital  piety  which  makes 
Christ  the  centre  of  happiness,  and  communion  with 
Him  the  highest  pleasure.  Yet  He  who  designed 
her  to  hold  a  distinguished  place  in  his  church,  so 
ordered  his  Providence,  that  several  events  concurred 
to  make  her  conversion  to  himself  singularly  inte- 
resting. The  first  cloud  that  darkened  the  hitherto 
happy  home  of  these  two  lovely  sisters,  was  a  seri- 
ous iilness  which  befell  Mary,  in  the  year  1826.  A 
pic-nic  party,  of  which  Mary  was  one,  spent  the 
day  in  the  neighborhood  of  Totteridge,  where  they 
then  resided.  It  was  a  day  of  uninterrupted  plea- 
sure, and  all  returned  to  their  houses,  delighted 


22 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


with  the  innocent  recreation  they  had  enjoyed,  little 
thinking  that  Death  had  cast  his  dart  securely  into 
the  lungs  of  one  of  their  number.  The  next  morn- 
ing Mary  awoke  with  an  entire  loss  of  voice,  which 
was  attributed  to  a  slight  cold,  from  sitting  on  the 
grass  the  previous  evening,  though  the  weather  was 
warm  and  unusually  fine  ;  and  w'hich,  it  was  hoped, 
a  little  care  and  medicine  w'ould  soon  remove.  But 
the  symptoms  became  every  day  more  alarming ; 
all  the  aids  of  the  first  medical  advice,  with  change 
of  air  and  scene,  were  tried  in  vain ;  she  never  re- 
covered her  voice ;  and  early  in  1827,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two,  she  sunk  under  the  influence  of  the 
same  insidious  disease  which,  twenty-one  years 
afterwards,  took  her  sister,  then  a  matured  Chris- 
tian, to  the  world  of  bliss,  into  which  she  so  early 
entered. 

Mary's  timid  and  retiring  character  had  deterred 
her  from  making  a  public  profession,  by  union  with 
a  Christian  church,  which  before  her  death  she 
much  regretted,  but  she  had  long  "  adorned  the 
doctrine  of  God  her  Saviour,"  by  her  consistent, 
though  hidden  walk,  in  the  family  and  private  cir- 
cle, and  died  "  in  sure  and  certain  hope  of  the  re- 
surrection to  eternal  life ;"  and  now  the  sisters  are 
reunited,  and  are  singing  together,  in  far  sweeter 
strains  than  those  by  which  they  so  often  charmed 
their  listening  friends  on  earth,  the  praises  of  "  Him 
who  loved  them,  and  washed  them  from  their  sins 
in  his  blood." 

The  death  of  Mary  was  the  first  link  in  the 
chain  of  events,  to  bring  Martha's  heart  under  the 
dominion  of  Christ.  It  will  easily  be  believed  how 
tenderly  she  watched  her  sister  during  her  long  ill- 
ness, how  hopefully  she  cherished  every  symptom 
of  amendment,  and  how  acute  was  her  sorrow  when 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


23 


her  precious  companion  was  taken  from  her ;  but 
He  who  dried  up  the  chief  source  of  her  earthly- 
comfort,  turned  her  affections  into  a  new  channel, 
which  ran  towards  the  heaven  into  which  her  sister 
had  entered.  Her  enlightened  judgment  saw  the 
vanity  of  health,  pleasure,  and  talent — the  utter 
insufficiency  of  all  human  aid  and  comfort  in  the 
article  of  death — and  the  absolute  necessity  of  a 
conscious  interest  in  Christ,  as  the  best  preparation 
for  a  useful  life  and  a  happy  eternity.  Her  impres- 
sions, however,  went  no  further,  and  it  was  re- 
served for  another  event  to  deepen  and  mature 
them. 

The  daughter  of  an  old  and  valued  friend,  about 
her  own  age,  to  whom  she  was  warmly  attached, 
came  on  a  visit  to  her  parents.  Martha,  though 
not  valuing  prayer  as  a  spiritual  exercise,  maintain- 
ed with  great  punctuality  and  order  the  hour  of  re- 
tirement for  reading  the  scriptures  and  devotion,  to 
which  she  had  been  accustomed  by  her  mother  from 
her  childhood,  and  to  which  the  recent  death  of 
her  sister  had  given  a  new  impulse.  Her  young 
friend  observed  that  this  time  was  always  kept 
sacred  for  the  purpose,  and  as  she  did  not  think  it 
absolutely  necessary,  manifested  an  indifference  to 
the  same  scrupulous  watchfulness.  Martha  en- 
treated that  she  would  retire  for  the  same  objects 
at  the  same  time.  She  consented,  and  not  many 
months  elapsed  before  she  began  to  feel  the  value 
of  her  soul  and  the  importance  of  its  salvation — 
her  reading  and  prayer  attained  a  vitality  and 
energy  which  Martha  had  never  reached,  and  this 
duty  became  one  of  the  most  exquisite  pleasures. 
She  saw,  felt,  and  enjoyed  the  blessedness  of  the 
man  whom  God  causes  to  approach  unto  him.  And 
now  her  deepest  concern  was  that  her  friend,  who 


24 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


had  urged  her  to  practice  this  heavenly  exercise, 
might  enjoy  its  spiritual  as  well  as  formal  obser- 
vance. In  her  turn  she  became  a  pleader  with 
Martha  to  seek  Christ  earnestly,  and  her  salvation 
immediately  ;  and  with  God  for  her,  that  she  might 
taste  the  blessing  she  had  instrumentally  imparted 
to  her  friend.  This  Martha  felt  to  be  the  one  thing 
needful,  and  the  peace  and  comfort  she  witnessed 
in  her  friend  gave  energy  to  her  petitions  that  she 
might  fully  possess  the  precious  gift  of  justification. 
He  who  hears  the  sighing  of  the  prisoner  did  not 
disdain  her  prayer. 

Behold  another  link  in  the  chain  of  events,  which 
led  to  her  conversion  and  decision  for  God.  A 
District  Visiting  Society  was  formed  about  this 
time  in  Enfield,  to  supply  the  temporal  wants  of 
the  poor.  One  of  the  districts  was  assigned  to 
Martha,  and  at  her  mother's  request  she  began  her 
responsible  duty  of  visitation.  Before  she  under- 
took it,  she  felt  her  utter  incapacity  to  direct  others 
to  that  fountain  of  life,  of  which  she  had  not  yet 
herself  tasted,  and  often  and  earnestly  entreated 
God  to  give  her  light  and  wisdom. 

Little  did  she  thmk  how  God  was  about  literally 
to  answer  that  sincere  desire.  In  the  district  as- 
signed her,  lived  a  poor  woman  of  the  name  of 
Taylor,  nearly  ninety  years  of  age,  exceedingly 
ignorant  and  prejudiced.  She  had  never  entered  a 
place  of  worship,  except  to  be  baptized,  married, 
and  churched,  but,  like  Martha,  was  now  earnestly 
desirous  of  understanding  and  enjoying  the  way  of 
salvation,  and  proposed  numerous  questions  to  her 
young  and  interesting  visitor  about  the  atonement, 
and  especially  how  she  could  become  interested  in 
it.  Her  enquiries  were  made  with  such  evident 
sincerity  and  anxiety,  as  to  send  Martha  home 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  25 

ejaculating,  "Oh,  that  I  could  show  this  poor 
woman  the  salvation  of  Jesus  Christ !  Teach  me, 
O  Lord,  the  way  of  thy  statutes!"  and  resolving 
that  she  would  search  the  Bible  and  other  religious 
books,  till  she  could  understand  this  great  doctrine 
herself,  and  explain  it  to  her  aged  pupil.  For  two 
months  her  visits  were  repeated  nearly  every 
day ;  she  became  more  and  more  interested  in  the 
increased  anxiety  of  the  old  woman  for  explana- 
tions, which,  though  through  her  reading  they 
were  given  with  theological  accuracy,  were  not 
tasted,  and  handled,  and  felt  by  herself  as  the 
word  of  life.  One  morning  after  earnest  prayer 
to  God  to  piepare  her  for  her  intended  visit,  she 
remembered,  when  living  at  Hackney,  to  have 
heard  Dr.  Burder  deliver  a  series  of  lectures  on  the 
"Essentials  of  Religion,"  in  which  she  was  much 
interested.  As  she  possessed  them  in  a  printed 
form,  she  took  up  the  book,  hoping  to  find  some 
elucidation  of  the  way  of  salvation,  to  assist  her  in 
her  conversation  that  day  with  Mrs.  Taylor.  While 
reading,  a  flood  of  heavenly  light  seemed  poured 
upon  her  mind,  the  complete  and  finished  atone- 
ment of  the  Saviour — the  justification  of  a  sinner 
by  the  righteousness  of  Christ  imputed  to  him — 
the  fullness  and  freeness  of  divine  grace  in  the  uni- 
versal call  to  come  and  partake  of  the  gospel  feast 
appeared  so  clear,  so  explicit,  and  so  glorious,  that 
she  embraced  them  by  faith,  and  had  literally  the 
joy  and  peace  of  believing.  Now  her  emancipated 
spirit  became  a  new  creature,  and  revelled  in  the 
sunshine  of  divine  love.  New  views  of  truth,  new 
principles  of  action,  new  motives  to  serve  Christ, 
new  joys  and  pleasures,  new  attachments  to  her 
Lord,  and  new  hopes  of  celestial  glory,  now  found 
a  place  in  that  heart,  where  dimness  and  doubt, 
3 


26 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


anxiety  and  fear,  only  existed  before ;  and  she  knelt 
down  to  bedew  with  tears  of  joy  the  spot  where  a 
broken  heart  had  pleaded  for  mercy,  and  to  offer 
sacrifices  of  praise  to  her  gracious  Lord. 

Better  instructed  now,  she  visited  her  charge 
with  renewed  diligence,  and  carried  with  her  a  pre- 
cious balm — the  finished  and  glorious  work  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  the  value  and  blessedness  of  which  she 
had  realized  ;  commending  and  opening  it  to  the 
eager  mind  of  the  aged  inquirer,  with  a  zeal  and 
love  proportionate  to  her  own  sense  of  its  import- 
ance, and  to  the  brief  time  her  pupil  had  to  live. 
Twice  a  week  for  four  years,  except  when  inter- 
rupted by  sickness  or  absence  from  home,  poor  Mrs. 
Taylor  saw  her  lovely  young  friend,  and  heard  her 
fascinating  and  cheerful  voice  proclaim  the  glad 
tidings  of  salvation.  Her  mind  gradually  opened 
to  receive  them,  and  she  became  a  truly  converted 
woman. 

A  few  weeks  before  Mrs.  Sherman  died  she  re- 
marked, "  I  never  think  of  Heaven  without  an 
assurance  that  I  shall  meet  Mrs.  Taylor  there.  She 
did,  indeed,  receive  the  word  of  God  as  a  little 
child.  Though  she  expressed  herself  ignorantly, 
yet  her  enjoyment  of  the  preciousness  of  Christ  ex- 
ceeded any  thing  I  had  ever  seen.  Her  faith 
ripened  into  calm  and  settled  assurance.  The  in- 
fluence on  her  temper  and  habits  was  so  remark- 
able that,  though  her  ignorant  children  could  not 
understand  what  had  produced  the  change,  yet  they 
observed  to  a  friend  who  accompanied  me,  that 
they  were  very  glad  of  Miss  Tucker's  visits,  as  they 
had"  made  their  mother  so  kind  and  good-tempered, 
and  so  thankful  for  every  thing  done  for  her.  A 
short  time  before  she  died  she  grasped  my  hand, 
while  the  tears  flowed  down  her  furrowed  cheeks, 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


27 


and  thanked  God  that  she  had  ever  seen  me,  and 
heard  of  the  way  of  salvation  from  my  lips,  con- 
cluding her  speech,  which  she  had  made  with  great 
effort,  with  these  words,  "  There  is  hope  for  me, 
Miss,"  and  in  a  few  minutes  entered  into  bliss,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety- three." 

It  is  not  a  little  remarkable,  that  two  precious 
souls  should  be  given  her,  one  before  and  another 
soon  after  her  conversion,  as  the  reward  of  effort 
to  serve  God,  and  do  good  to  those  who  came  within 
her  reach.  To  these  instances  she  often  referred, 
as  reasons  why  she  should  sow  in  all  waters,  and 
in  the  morning  and  evening,  because  she  could  not 
tell  how  or  which  of  her  efforts  would  prosper. 
Happy  they  who  begin  to  work  for  God  early,  and 
form  the  habit  of  aiming  to  win  souls  before  sense- 
less etiquette  has  quenched  their  first  love,  or  the 
business  and  cares  of  life  have  deprived  them  of 
opportunities  which  the  "  unmarried"  have  of 
pleasing  Christ.  During  the  continuance  of  her 
visits  to  Mrs.  Taylor,  and  while  the  freshness  of  her 
joy  in  her  Savior  lasted,  she  resolved  to  consecrate 
herself  to  his  service  more  publicly,  by  uniting  with 
the  Church  of  Christ,  assembling  at  Chase  Side, 
Enfield,  then  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  S.  A.  Da- 
vies.  One  of  the  most  anxious  periods  of  a  young 
Christian's  life,  is  that  on  which  duty  and  privilege 
alike  urge  a  public  avowal  of  faith  in  the  atone- 
ment of  Christ,  love  to  his  people,  and  separation 
from  the  world.  Such  it  was  to  Martha.  That 
after  all  she  had  experienced,  she  might  be  deluded, 
that  in  a  short  time  she  would  make  shipwreck  of 
faith,  and  disgrace  her  profession,  and  that  her 
talents  and  piety  were  so  mean  that  the  church 
could  not  be  benefited  by  her  accession  to  its  mem- 
bers, were  suggestions  which  Satan  urged  to  her 


28 


THK  pastor's  wife;  or 


great  discouragement ;  but  the  temptations  were 
overruled  for  good.  In  consequence  of  them  the 
step  was  preceded  by  long  and  careful  self-exami- 
nation, much  prayer  to  God,  and  consultation  with 
her  parents  and  Christian  friends,  who  greatly  en- 
couraged her  to  more  direct  association  with  the 
friends  of  the  Redeemer — the  result  of  which  was 
the  following  interesting  letter  to  her  pastor : 

Hill,  July  28th,  1829. 

"Reverend  Sir, 
"In  venturing  to  offer  myself  as  a  candidate  for 
admission  into  the  visible  Church  of  Christ,  under 
your  care,  I  trust  I  am  influenced  by  a  deep  con- 
viction of  sin,  and  an  abandonment  of  all  hope  of 
salvation,  on  any  other  ground  than  the  all-suffi- 
cient sacrifice  of  the  blessed  Redeemer,  who  died 
the  just  for  the  unjust,  to  reconcile  us  to  God ;  and 
as  an  adequate  return  for  such  infinite  love  is 
wholly  impossible,  all  I  can  do  is  to  give  myself  to 
Him  as  my  rightful  owner.  I  therefore  solemnly 
dedicate  myself  to  him,  resolving  that  whatever 
others  do,  I  will  serve  the  Lord;  I  renounce  the 
world  and  its  proffered  joys,  and  will  seek  my 
happiness  in  Him  alone — by  his  help  and  the  in- 
fluences of  his  Holy  Spirit,  I  resolve  to  forsake  all 
sin,  to  do  his  will,  and  strive  after  conformity  to 
his  precepts  and  example.  On  his  promises  I  rely, 
firmly  convinced  that  not  one  of  them  can  fail,  for 
He  is  faithful  that  hath  promised, 

'  Though  cisterns  be  broken, 

And  creatures  all  fail, 
The  word  he  hath  spoken 

Shall  surely  prevail.' 

"To  his  faithful  hand  I  commit  my  immortal 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


29 


soul,  to  be  saved  in  his  own  appointed  way,  and 
though  it  may  be  by  severe  trials,  I  trust  I  shall  be 
enabled  to  say  'Thy  will  be  done.'  By  obedience 
to  the  divine  command,  and  partaking  of  the  sym- 
bols of  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ,  broken  and 
shed  for  the  remission  of  sins,  I  hope  to  keep  up  a 
memorial  deeply  humbling,  of  his  dying  love,  to 
feed  upon  it  for  my  spiritual  nourishment  and  growth 
in  grace,  holiness,  and  resemblance  to  him  who  first 
loved  me.  I  hereby  declare  my  entire  dependence 
on  the  merits  of  his  death  and  righteousness  for  my 
acceptance  with  God — my  desire  to  participate  of 
his  fullness — that  I  am  not  ashamed  to  fight  under 
his  banner,  and  I  trust  the  blessings  resulting  from 
a  closer  union  to  Christ,  will  be  mine.  I  expect 
to  be  assailed  by  many  temptations,  but  though  I 
hope  they  will  deeply  humble  and  purify  me,  yet 
trusting  to  the  great  Captain  of  my  salvation  alone, 
I  shall  finally  overcome — it  is  written,  '  He  will  not 
suffer  you  to  be  tempted  above  that  ye  are  able,  but 
will  with  the  temptation  also  make  a  way  to  escape.' 
'  We  have  not  a  High  Priest  who  cannot  be  touched 
with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities,  but  was  in  all 
points  tempted  like  as  we  are:' 

'  The  desert  his  temptations  knew, 
His  conflict  and  his  victory  too.' 

Though  blest  from  a  child  with  every  advantage 
from  the  pious  instruction,  example,  and  affection- 
ate prayers  of  my  beloved  parents,  it  was  not  until 
death  visited  our  family,  in  the  removal  of  my  dear 
and  only  sister,  that  I  felt  the  emptiness  of  all 
wordly  things,  and  their  inability  to  console  and 
support  in  affliction.  To  the  free  and  unmerited 
grace  of  God,  I  am  indebted,  that  I  was  thus  led  to 


30  THE  pastor's  wife  ;  or 

seek  Him,  in  whom  alone  true  happiness  is  found ; 
weak  and  cold  as  are  my  faith  and  love,  (if,  in- 
deed, I  have  any)  I  would  not  part  with  that  cheer- 
ing hope  of  immortality  which  He  has  inspired  in 
me,  for  all  this  world  can  promise.  Oh!  may  each 
day  witness  in  me  a  growth  in  grace,  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  God,  an  increasing  relish  for  spiritual 
things,  greater  love  to  the  word,  ordinances,  day, 
and  people  of  God ;  and,  above  all,  to  Him  who 
has  w^ashed  my  soul  in  the  fountain  of  his  own  pre- 
cious blood.  His  be  all  the  glory  of  my  salvation, 
and  if,  indeed,  it  be  my  honor  and  felicity,  to  reach 
that  blessed  world  where  He  is,  with  what  joy  shall 
I  cast  my  crown  at  his  feet,  ascribing  all  my  deli- 
verance to  his  matchless  love. 

"I  am.  Rev.  Sir, 

"Yours  respectfully, 
"Martha  Tucker." 

It  will  not  create  surprise  that  she  was  welcomed 
with  joy  by  the  pastor  to  the  participation  of 
Christian  privileges,  but  it  does  not  say  much  for 
the  liveliness  or  spirituality  of  that  church,  that  no 
one  member  of  it,  took  any  notice  of  the  event,  or 
gave  her  a  word  of  encouragement,  to  pursue  the 
course  she  had  begun.  This  possibly  arose,  not 
from  want  of  interest  in  her,  or  from  indifference 
about  the  prosperity  of  Christ's  kingdom,  but  from 
a  cold  carelessness,  and  looking  at  the  event  more 
as  a  matter  of  course,  than  as  one  in  which  the 
whole  hierarchy  of  heaven  rejoice.  The  members 
of  a  Christian  Church  cannot  divine,  what  blessings 
God  may  give  them,  through  the  addition  of  a 
youthful  member  to  their  society:  it  may  be  one  of 
the  means  of  eliciting  talent,  and  engaging  prayer 
on  behalf  of  that  church,  to  give  such  a  youth  the 


MKMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


31 


impression  that  they  are  interested  in  his  growth, 
piety,  and  the  employment  of  his  energies  for  their 
Lord.  A  kind  word  for  Christ,  and  a  friendly  shake 
of  the  hand,  cost  nothing  to  the  giver,  but  often 
impart  unspeakable  encouragement  to  the  receiver, 
and  awake  the  best  feelings  of  his  heart. 

In  the  visitation  of  her  district,  and  communion 
with  Christian  friends,  Martha  continued  her  unos- 
tentatious course  of  usefulness,  amidst  many  men- 
tal conflicts  and  disappointments.  Some  who  have 
removed  to  various  parts  of  the  country,  remember 
her  visits  and  efforts  with  great  affection,  and  attri- 
bute their  first  impressions  of  love  to  the  Savior, 
or  their  more  steadfast  walk  in  his  paths,  to  her 
interesting  conversations. 

A  new  and  heavy  trial  now  awaited  her.  In  the 
year  1833,  her  young  friend,  to  whom  she  had  been 
useful,  by  directing  her  attention  to  punctual  visits 
at  the  throne  of  grace,  was  seized  with  fever  while 
on  a  visit  to  Clay  Hill,  and  was  obliged  to  be  re- 
moved home,  where  in  a  few  days  its  malignity 
terminated  her  life,  and  ushered  her  into  the  pre- 
sence of  her  Lord,  with  whom  she  had  learned  to 
hold  sweet  communion  on  earth. 

Martha  was  now  not  only  deprived  of  a  friend, 
whose  piety  and  devotedness  were  likely  to  be 
helpful  to  her  in  her  Christian  course,  but  from 
having  slept  with  her  she  caught  the  infectious  dis- 
ease, and  for  some  length  of  time  her  life  hung  on  a 
very  slender  thread.  Many  have  had  cause  to  bless 
God  for  a  sick  chamber,  and  it  proved  to  Martha 
a  school  in  which  she  attained  an  enlarged  expe- 
rience of  God's  love,  and  afforded  a  trial  of  those 
graces,  which  the  Spirit  of  God  had  planted  and 
nurtured.  Her  patience  and  love  amid  great  suf- 
fering, were  the  admiration  of  all  who  saw  her,  or 


32 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


had  the  privilege  of  ministering  to  her  necessities. 
In  the  course  of  a  few  months  she  recovered,  and, 
by  the  blessing  of  God,  enjoyed  renewed  health  and 
increased  devotedness  to  her  best  Friend,  who,  as 
other  friends  were  removed,  became  more  precious 
to  her  redeemed  and  sanctified  spirit. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


33 


CHAPTER  III. 

HER  MARRIAGE  AND  RESIDENCE  AT  READING. 

With  a  lovely  person,  a  cultivated  mind,  an 
amiable  temper,  fascinating  manners,  and  fervent 
piety,  it  is  wonderful  that  Martha  remained  single 
till  her  29th  year.  It  will  readily  be  supposed  this 
was  not  because  her  heart  and  hand  had  been  un- 
solicited. Numbers  had  sought  that  privilege  of 
herself  and  of  her  father,  but  something  had  always 
occurred  to  prevent  the  acceptance  of  any  offer,  or 
the  winning  of  so  susceptible  and  tender  a  heart. 
How  can  her  now  mourning  widower  sufficiently 
admire  and  adore  the  kindness  of  that  Providence 
which  led  his  steps  as  a  stranger  to  her  habitation, 
and  made  him,  who  had  fewer  pretensions  than 
many  who  had  previously  sought  her  favor,  the 
man  of  her  preference  and  of  her  confidence.  If  a 
"prudent  wife  is  from  the  Lord,"  surely  he  must 
see  the  divine  hand  most  remarkably  in  this  pre- 
cious gift ;  for  in  his  deliberate  judgment,  and  mak- 
ing all  abatement  for  affectionate  remembrance,  and 
the  superior  estimation  in  which  relatives  and 
friends  who  are  removed  from  us  by  death  are  held, 
there  could  scarcely  be  in  this  sinful  world  a  being 
nearer  perfection.  And  he  believes  that  he  stands 
not  alone  in  this  judgment;  but  that  it  is  the  sober 
conviction  of  all  who  knew  her  most  intimately, 
and  who  at  particular  seasons  have  spontaneously 
borne  similar  testimony. 

She  must  have  known,  in  accepting  a  widower 


34  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

with  three  children,  and  commencing  life  as  a  wife 
and  a  mother,  that  she  burthened  herself  with  res- 
ponsible cares  and  duties,  from  which  she  had  the 
opportunity,  had  she  so  determined,  of  being  free; 
but  the  sphere  of  usefulness  in  a  large,  united  and 
flourishing  congregation,  situated  in  a  lovely  coim- 
•try  town,  and  among  a  people  where  vital  religion 
abounded,  no  doubt  had  great  influence  on  her  de- 
cision. God  had  respect  to  that  decision,  and  ho- 
nored it  by  making  her  extensively  useful  to  souls, 
which  satisfied  and  delighted  her,  more  than  if 
wealth  and  titles  had  been  added  to  her  name. 
Her  epistolary  correspondence  preparatory  to  her 
marriage,  would  for  its  piety  and  prudence  be  suit- 
ed to  meet  any  eye,  and  be  a  pattern  for  many 
young  persons ;  for  while  the  warm  affection  of  the 
heart  to  him  who  had  gained  it,  was  not  wanting, 
the  aspirations  after  spiritual  blessings,  and  earnest 
desires  for  qualifications  suitable  to  the  important 
sphere  she  was  about  to  occupy,  formed  the  chief 
subjects  of  her  letters.  The  following  extract  is 
given  as  a  specimen  only. 

"I  have  often  thought  of  your  remark  the  other 
day,  on  the  importance  of  deep  personal  piety,  and 
its  habitual  manifestation  at  home,  in  order  to  use- 
fulness abroad;  it  completely  coincides  with  my 
views,  while  it  magnifies  my  feeling  of  unfitness  for 
so  lovely  a  situation  as  it  must  be  when  its  duties 
are  indeed  performed.  But  my  very  own  dear 
friend,  who  'honors  God  and  whom  God  has  ho- 
nored,' has  no  strength  in  himself;  all  is  imparted, 
and  even  holy  Paul,  when  declaring  that  he  could 
'  do  all  things,'  was  equally  obliged  to  add,  '  through 
Christ  who  strengtheneth  me.'  And  may  not  your 
helpless  Patty  hope  for  the  much  needed  aid  of  Him 
who  surely  has  led  her  into  so  responsible  a  post? 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


35 


When  heaven's  windows  are  opened  for  your  sup- 
ply, will  she  be  passed  by  whose  necessities  are  so 
much  greater,  and  when  his  name  would  be  pecu- 
liarly glorified,  as  the  Divine  hand  would  be  most 
distinctly  to  be  seen  I  Oh,  for  the  entire  unreserved 
surrender  of  our  all  to  the  service  of  our  God! 
May  our  mutual  affection  be  as  oil  to  the  wheels 
of  devotion  and  obedience '  I  am  certain  that  our 
happiness  must  depend  on  our  devotedness  to  God, 
and  we  would  not  have  a  happiness,  falsely  so 
called,  which  could  exist  without  a  life  of  commu- 
nion with  our  Redeeming  God,  May  but  the  pro- 
mised Spirit  be  shed  abundantly  upon  us,  and  then 
we  have  nothing  to  fear." 

On  the  3rd  of  March,  1835,  the  happy  union 
was  solemnized  at  Enfield  Church.  Two  of  the 
wedding  party  beside  herself — and  one  of  them  the 
most  unlikely  of  the  whole  group,  from  his  youth, 
health,  and  promise  of  long  life — are  now  in  eter- 
nity ;  so  uncertain  are  the  brightest  prospects  this 
world  can  give.  Like  all  days  of  pleasure  on  earth, 
the  cheerfulness  of  this  day  was  occasionally  inter- 
rupted by  the  tears  of  parents,  who  were  confiding 
and  resigning  their  only  child — and  of  a  dutiful  and 
affectionate  daughter,  who  was  separating  herself 
from  the  special  care  of  those  who  had  tenderly 
loved  her,  and  watched  her  interest  with  unfailing 
kindness.  Amidst  the  hearty  wishes  and  prayers 
of  her  friends,  she  left  the  parental  roof,  and  after 
a  tour  in  the  north,  arrived  at  her  house  in  Reading. 

First  impressions  of  any  place  are  allowed  to 
have  great  influence  on  our  content  and  comfort. 
Let  her  describe  them  herself. 

"  I  have  now  arrived  at  my  apparently  happy 
home.  It  is  just  what  a  minister's  should  be  ;  neat, 
genteel,  and  cheerful.    The  house  stands  on  a  rising 


36 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


ground,  commanding  delightful  views  over  the  val- 
ley of  the  Kennet,  and  is  very  dry  and  healthy, 
and,  as  you  would  expect,  very  nicely  furnished. 
Think  of  your  poor  Patty  becoming  a  mother  with- 
out any  suffering,  and  sitting  down  with  three  sweet 
children,  of  ages  to  understand  and  appreciate  af- 
fection. I  cannot  tell  what  love  a  mother  feels  to 
those  she  has  borne,  but  I  think  it  impossible  that 
I  could  love  any  children  of  my  own  more  than 
these  whom  I  have  adopted.  May  I  have  grace 
given  to  train  them  all  for  God,  that  if  I  should  be 
removed  from  them,  as  their  dear  mother  has  been, 
they  may  follow  her  useful  life  and  enter  into  her 
unspeakable  joy.  It  is  too  early  to  say  much  about 
our  mutual  love,  but  it  will  comfort  you  to  hear, 
what  I  believe  you  never  questioned,  that  I  find  in 
my  precious  husband  a  devoted,  sympathizing,  for- 
bearing heart.  Much  has  he  to  overlook  in  my 
ignorance  and  want  of  tact,  but  by  his  persevering 
tuition  I  hope  to  be  somewhat  qualified  for  the  im- 
portant station  I  now  fill.  I  can  scarcely  believe 
that  I  had  the  temerity  to  venture  upon  such  an 
untried  life,  and  did  I  not  know  the  fullness  of  grace 
in  my  all-compassionate  Savior,  and  that  he  is 
fully  acquainted  with  the  desires  of  my  he^rt,  how- 
ever feebly  expressed  to  Him,  to  be  the  humble  and 
honored  instrument  of  winning  souls  to  himself,  I 
must  despair. 

"Every  one  of  the  congregation  whom  I  have 
seen,  cheers  me  with  hope,  and  I  esteem  this  espe- 
cially kind,  as  I  am  the  successor  of  one,  who  lives 
in  their  hearts  and  memories,  and  by  her  prudence, 
piety  and  superintendence,  has  won  golden  opinions 
from  this  interesting  circle.  O !  how  unworthy  do 
I  feel  of  such  an  honor,  and  how  incapable  of  tread- 
ing in  her  steps.    Several  of  the  members  of  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


37 


church  are  persons  of  exalted  piety,  such  as  I  have 
longed  to  see,  but  never  yet  had  intercourse  with ; 
particularly  Mr.  F.  He  seems  more  like  Enoch, 
than  any  other  person  to  whom  I  can  compare  him 
— walking  with  God — never  meeting  you  without 
a  heart  like  a  fountain,  pouring  out  streams  of  love 
to  Christ,  and  desires  that  all  might  know  and  love 
Him.  The  church  is  all  activity ;  must  have  some- 
thing to  do,  and  hearts  to  do  it.  In  the  villages 
around  Reading,  my  dear  husband  has  built  five 
chapels,  and  taken  two  others  under  his  charge. 
As  objects  in  the  landscape,  they  are  exceedingly 
picturesque,  being  built  of  Bath  stone,  with  towers 
or  steeples,  and  jjlaced  in  commanding  situations. 
So  that  at  home  and  abroad  there  is  plenty  to  do. 
Pity  your  poor  ignorant  friend,  who  has  every  thing 
to  learn,  and  is  very  slow  in  receiving  instruction, 
and  pray  for  her,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  may  qualify 
her  to  pursue  the  glorious  enterprise  which  presents 
itself  to  her  eye ;  that  Christ  may  be  magnified  in 
her,  whether  it  be  by  life  or  by  death." 

It  is  very  difficult  for  persons  of  courageous 
spirits,  or  for  those  whose  lengthened  labors  in 
spiritual  services  have  rendered  them  almost  a 
habit,  to  understand  the  timidity  and  struggles 
which  a  delicate  and  hitherto  untrained  mind  ex- 
periences, in  its  first  effort  in  any  public  work  for 
God.  They  forget  their  former  difficulties,  or  if 
the  work  became  natural  to  them  from  the  first, 
they  cannot  sympathize  with  any,  whose  efforts 
have  been  useful,  but  quite  of  another  kind  from 
those  in  which  they  have  been  so  long  engaged. 
Hence,  in  their  zeal,  instead  of  leading  the  timid, 
step  by  step,  they  often  deter  and  distress  them,  by 
exclamations  of  astonishment  at  their  backward- 
ness or  unfitness.  Females,  especially  those  of  re- 
1 


38 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


fined  habits  and  superior  education,  require  the 
most  tender  treatment  to  induce  them  to  employ 
their  talents  in  any  public  manner,  and  have  far 
more  difficulties  to  overcome,  than  those  of  inferior 
knowledge  and  station.  O!  what  would  many  of 
them  give  for  a  kind  and  sympathizing  friend,  who 
has  been  in  similar  circumstances  before  her  activi- 
ty for  Christ  commenced,  and  who  would  lead 
them  on  gently  as  they  were  able  to  bear  it.  Such 
was  Mrs.  Sherman's  difficulty  in  her  new  station. 
On  the  first  Sunday  after  her  entrance  into  Read- 
ing, she  went  to  the  Sunday-School,  to  see  if  she 
could  be  useful  by  taking  a  class  of  children  to  in- 
struct. Circumstances  had  not  permitted  her  to 
undertake  this  duty  at  Enfield,  and  the  labor  was 
therefore,  wholly  new  to  her.  A  lady  who  had 
generally  superintended  the  female  school,  and  who 
united  in  her  character,  piety,  zeal,  and  persever- 
ance, very  heartily  welcomed  her,  and  expressed 
her  joy  in  finding  the  minister's  wife  willing  to  as- 
sist in  training  the  children  for  heaven.  Imme- 
diately in  a  great  bustle,  she  introduced  the  female 
teachers  to  her,  one  after  another,  and  assured  them 
that  now  the  minister's  wife  was  come  to  their  help, 
the  school  must  prosper.  "I  fear  you  miscalculate 
my  feeble  help  and  influence,"  meekly  replied  Mrs. 
Sherman,  heaving  a  deep  sigh.  Before  the  teachers 
dispersed  to  their  classes,  the  zealous  su]ierintend- 
ent  brought  the  books,  and  described  the  modes  of 
registering  their  names,  marking  their  attendance, 
and  giving  rewards.  "  You  see,  by  these  books, 
we  have  not  been  so  orderly  as  we  ought,  but  now 
you  are  come  amongst  us,  every  thing  will  be  set 
to  rights;  and  I  merely  show  you  these,  in  order 
that  you  may  speak  to  the  teachers  on  the  neces- 
sity of  punctuality  and  regularity,  in  their  attend- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


39 


ance  and  records  of  the  school.  You  do  not  know 
what  good  you  may  do." 

With  a  heart  palpitating  from  conscious  igno- 
rance of  these  plans,  and  giving  the  assurance  that 
she  could  introduce  no  improvement,  she  ventured 
to  say,  "  It  is  all  new  to  me,  and  I  shall  have  to 
learn  of  you ;  I  have  never  taught  in  a  Sunday- 
School  before."  "Indeed!"  was  the  answer,  with 
a  very  significant  "  Aem,"  which  conveyed  more 
than  it  expressed.  At  this  moment  a  small  bell 
rang  for  the  opening  of  the  school.  "  You  will,  of 
course,  open  the  school  with  prayer  for  us,"  said 
the  lady.  "  No,  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  possibly 
undertake  that  service  ;  I  have  only  prayed  in  pri- 
vate, with  a  female,  and  should  be  quite  confound- 
ed in  the  attempt  to  pray  before  so  many,"  was  the 
answer.  The  blush  rose  in  her  cheeks,  and  her 
spirit  became  well-nigh  overwhelmed  at  the  evi- 
dences of  her  incapacity,  but  she  proceeded  :  "  You 
will  be  kind  enough  to  conduct  the  school  as  usual, 
and  I  will  take  a  few  children  as  a  class,  and  try  to 
help  you."  "  O,  no,"  said  this  zealous  friend,  "  I 
cannot  pray  before  you ;  we  thought  all  our  diffi- 
culties would  be  at  an  end  when  you  came.  We 
heard  of  your  usefulness  and  zeal,  and  expect  you 
to  be  a  great  blessing  among  us."  Concealing  her 
feelings  as  much  as  possible,  and  using  her  entrea- 
ties, Mrs.  S.  at  last  won  over  the  superintendent  to 
open  the  school,  after  which  she  took  a  class.  At 
its  conclusion,  she  returned  home  with  a  broken 
heart,  and  gave  vent  to  her  sorrow  in  a  flood  of 
tears,  (an  unusual  thing  with  her,  though  of  so  ten- 
der a  nature,)  and  relating  the  circumstances  of  the 
afternoon,  expressed  her  fear  that  her  husband  had 
made  a  wretched  choice,  in  introducing  one  so  ut- 
terly unqualified  to  lead  as  she  was  ;  that  every  one 


40  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

was  disappointed  in  her,  and  her  Savior's  cause 
would  suffer  from  her  inexperience.  This  was  not 
the  effect  of  mortified  pride  at  the  rough  manner  in 
which  she  had  been  treated,  not  a  complaint  of 
which  escaped  her  lips — although  no  one  felt  more 
acutely  the  want  of  courtesy  and  delicacy  in  a  fe- 
male, w^henever  they  were  manifested — but  a  deep 
sense  of  her  deficiency  in  those  qualifications  which 
she  thought  the  cause  of  Christ  required  from  a 
minister's  wife.  Now,  this  lady  w^as  a  talented, 
useful,  devoted  person,  but  lacked  the  tact  required 
to  draw  out  talent  in  another,  and  to  treat  with  a 
delicate  mind.  Her  sentiments  were  uttered  with 
all  honesty  and  zeal  for  her  Master,  and  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  school,  yet  they  had  a  repellent,  rather 
than  an  attractive  power  to  a  timid  but  willing 
mind,  which,  instead  of  receiving  the  encourage- 
ment that  was  so  peculiarly  needed,  was  thus  made 
to  feel  more  painfully  helpless.  O  how  much  wis- 
dom, as  well  as  zeal,  is  required  in  dealing  with 
souls  ! 

A  band,  however,  of  holy  women,  used  influence 
of  another  and  a  better  kind,  more  adapted  to  her 
difficulties  and  timidity.  A  Maternal  Society  had 
for  some  time  been  formed  at  Reading ;  the  object 
of  which  was,  by  prayer,  reading,  and  conversation, 
to  awaken  in  the  minds  of  mothers,  a  proper  sense  of 
their  duties  and  responsibilities,  and  to  inform  and 
direct  them  in  their  performance.  These  pious  and 
educated  mothers  were  representatives  from  all  de- 
nominations of  Christians  in  the  town,  and  were 
like  working-bees,  bringing  the  honey  they  gathered 
from  every  source,  and  making  it  the  common  pro- 
perty of  the  whole  association.  Here  social  prayer 
was  presented  month  after  month,  suggestions  were 
offered,  and  she  obtained  the  benefit  of  their  more 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


41 


enlarged  experience  in  training  the  young  immor- 
tals, she  had  so  lovingly  and  so  prayerfully  taken 
under  her  wing. 

In  giving  her  opinion  of  these  meetings  a  little 
before  her  death,  she  said,  "Although  some  who 
assembled  on  those  occasions  were  a  little  too  fast 
for  me,  I  can  never  sufficiently  thank  God  for  the 
benefit  I  derived  from  the  prayers  and  conversation 
of  those  holy  women.  Though  for  a  long  time  I 
could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  pray  before  them, 
my  mind  was  wonderfully  awakened  to  more 
serious  reflection  on  maternal  responsibility,  and  led 
to  attempt  in  maternal  discipline,  what,  without 
these  conversations,  I  should  have  deemed  imprac- 
ticable. Of  what  little  advantage  my  precious 
children  have  derived  from  my  imperfect  endeavors 
for  their  salvation,  much  must  be  attributed  to  this 
heavenly  intercourse ;  and  to  my  latest  day,  I  shall 
remember  with  gratitude,  the  patience,  sympathy, 
and  affection  of  that  group  of  mothers,  for  one  so 
inexperienced." 

While  these  meetings  were  in  progress,  and  a 
general  desire  prevailed  for  a  revival  in  religion,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Codman,  from  America,  visited 
Reading,  and  by  their  conversations  tended  greatly 
to  increase  the  impressions  of  its  necessity  and  at- 
tainableness.  After  dinner  one  day,  when  Mrs. 
Codman  and  Mrs.  Sherman  had  retired,  the  latter 
entreated  the  former,  as  a  parting  kindness,  to  pray 
with  her,  that  this  revival,  which  had  been  the  sub- 
ject of  conversation,  might  come  to  her,  her  chil- 
dren, her  husband,  and  the  Church  of  Christ  over 
which  he  presided  ;  to  which  she  readily  consented, 
and  after  pouring  out  her  heart  in  fervent  supplica- 
tion, which  deeply  affected  Mrs.  Sherman,  Mrs. 
Codman,  before  they  rose  from  their  knees,  turned 
4* 


42 


THE  pastor's  w  ife  ;  OR 


to  her  timid  friend  and  said,  "Can  you  allow  me 
to  go  to  America  without  asking  God  to  bless  me 
and  mine?  Come  thou  blessed  of  the  Lord,  let  God 
and  me  hear  your  voice !"  The  appeal  was  so  well 
timed,  so  reasonable,  so  affectionately  uttered,  and 
took  her  so  entirely  by  surprise,  that  she  had  not 
time  to  summon  her  fears;  and  with  a  sigh  for 
help,  which  reached  the  Divine  ear,  she  began,  and 
in  a  strain  of  heavenly  fervency  and  devotional 
power,  poured  out  such  petitions  for  her  friend  and 
her  family,  as  completely  surprised  and  delighted 
her  spirit. 

Observing  Mrs.  Codman  much  affected,  her  hus- 
band asked  the  Doctor  if  any  thing  had  troubled 
her.  "Oh!  no,"  said  he,  "your  precious  wife  has 
been  praying  with  her,  and  she  says  she  has  never 
heard  a  prayer  like  it  for  power  and  gracious  effect 
on  the  heart:  she  is  sure  that  no  person  can  pray 
in  that  manner,  who  is  not  in  the  habit  of  very  inti- 
mate communion  with  God."  This  was  a  great 
encouragement  to  her  ever  afterwards,  and  though 
she  shunned  the  engagement,  yet  when  pressed  upon 
her  by  duty,  she  felt  the  difficulty  far  less  than  be- 
fore. Thus  does  God,  by  his  providence,  often  ap- 
pear for  us,  eliciting  hidden  talent,  and  giving 
power  to  the  faint  among  his  disciples,  for  futm-e 
efforts  in  his  church. 

In  all  towns  there  is  usually  a  special  locality 
where  the  poorest  and  most  wretched  of  the  inha- 
bitants dwell.  This  locality  in  Reading  was  Hano- 
ver Square,  in  Coley  Lane,  very  unlike  the  spot 
in  London  from  which  its  aristocratic  name  was 
taken — for  its  houses  were  very  filthy,  and  its  re- 
sidents the  worst  of  the  population  of  that  other- 
wise clean  and  respectable  town.  Here,  however, 
Mrs.  Sherman  commenced  a  systematic  and  regular 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


43 


weekly  visitation  of  the  families,  instructing  the 
poor  ignorant  mothers  in  the  training  of  their  chil- 
dren, and  in  the  way  to  make  domestic  life  happy, 
as  well  as  in  the  more  important  lessons  of  evan- 
gelical truth.  At  first  she  was  coldly  received,  but 
after  a  few  visits  became  such  a  favorite  that  the 
children  would  run  to  welcome  her,  and  every  door 
in  the  district  was  thrown  open  to  receive  their 
"friend,"  which  was  the  name  by  which  they  were 
accustomed  to  designate  their  benefactress.  In 
twelve  months'  labor  the  locality  assumed  an  air 
of  greater  cleanliness  and  comfort,  many  of  its  in- 
habitants attended  the  preaching  of  the  gospel — 
every  child  capable  of  leaving  home  was  sent  to  a 
Sunday-School,  and  some  few  instances  of  hopeful 
conversion,  were  the  high  reward  of  this  disinte- 
rested labor  of  love.  And,  generally  speaking, 
wherever  the  effort  is  made  in  a  right  spirit  to  help 
and  comfort  the  poor,  and  elevate  their  condition, 
without  attempting  to  interfere  with  their  indepen- 
dence, and  make  them  slaves  by  charity,  similar 
results  will  follow. 

During  her  eighteen  months'  residence  in  Read- 
ing, it  pleased  God  to  spare  her  life  twice  by  great 
deliverances.  In  the  month  of  July  succeeding  her 
marriage,  her  husband  was  driving  her  and  a  Chris- 
tian friend  in  a  phaeton  to  Henley,  when,  about 
half  the  distance  from  that  town,  by  some  extraor- 
dinary neglect  the  linch-pin  of  the  fore-wheel  came 
out,  and  let  the  carriage  down  on  one  end  of  the 
fore-axle — the  friend  who  sat  behind  was  thrown 
out  first,  her  husband  next,  and  herself  last ;  but  in 
falling  out,  her  foot  became  entangled  in  the  rein, 
which  bound  itself  tightly  round  her  ancle:  the 
horse  took  fright  and  ran  a  distance  of  above  one 
hundred  yards,  with  Mrs.  Sherman  dragging  by  the 


44 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


side  of  the  wheel.  Never  can  the  sensations  of 
that  moment  be  forgotten.  Death  in  one  of  its 
horrid  forms  seemed  inevitable.  In  an  agony, 
strengthened  by  despair  of  help  from  man,  for  no 
creature  was  near  at  the  moment,  her  husband 
screamed  to  the  horse  to  stop,  and  God  made  the 
animal  obedient — for  though  running  at  an  immense 
pace,  the  moment  he  heard  his  master's  voice,  he 
stood  stone  still  till  he  came  up  to  him  and  released 
his  precious  treasure,  whom  he  received  again  as 
alive  from  the  dead.  O !  none  can  tell  the  intense 
suffering  of  such  a  moment  to  the  spectator,  but  such 
as  have  experienced  it,  and  it  is  hoped  their  num- 
ber is  small.  Except  her  clothes  being  torn  from 
her  person,  and  some  few  lacerations  of  the  skin, 
Mrs.  Sherman  had  sustained  little  injury,  and  after 
a  few  days  was  as  well  as  usual.  This  accident 
happened  on  a  Friday  evening,  the  regular  evening 
on  which  the  weekly  concert  for  prayer  was  held, 
and  arriving  in  Reading  just  at  the  time  of  their 
assembling,  an  opportunity  was  afforded  for  her 
husband  to  inspire  the  people  to  unite  with  him  in 
thanksgivings  to  God  for  so  signal  a  deliverance. 

The  other  affliction  to  which  allusion  has  been 
made,  was  an  illness  which  at  an  early  stage  was 
considered  light,  but  which  after  a  short  time  as- 
sumed a  very  formidable  character,  and  threatened 
fatal  consequences  if  not  speedily  checked.  That 
which  peculiarly  aggravated  her  trial,  was  her  hus- 
band's affliction  at  the  same  time.  He  was  engaged 
to  preach  at  the  opening  of  a  new  chapel  in  the 
month  of  January,  and  preparatory  to  preaching,  as 
the  only  place  of  retirement  that  could  be  had,  he 
was  put  into  an  unfinished  vestry,  the  plaster  of 
which  was  streaming  with  water.  It  was  a  bitter, 
frosty  night,  and  as  he  sat  Avarming  himself  by  a 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


45 


fire  made  of  wood,  in  a  grate  formed  by  a  few- 
bricks,  he  soon  felt  alternately  shivering  with  cold 
and  burning  with  heat.  After  the  service,  he  men- 
tioned to  a  friend,  who  drove  him  a  distance  of 
about  fifteen  miles  in  a  gig,  to  London,  his  fears 
that  a  severe  cold  would  be  the  result,  the  symp- 
toms of  which  clearly  enough  developed  themselves 
soon  after  his  arrival  in  Reading.  In  a  few  days 
brain  fever  began  to  appear — the  head  was  shaved — 
ice  was  applied,  and  copious  bleeding  resorted 
to,  and  at  length,  though  the  symptoms  were  sub- 
dued, fears  were  expressed  that  the  system  would 
riot  rally.  God,  however,  graciously  heard  prayer, 
and  restored  him  to  convalescence ;  but  the  first 
time  of  going  out  to  the  house  of  God,  fresh  cold 
was  taken.  The  symptoms  returned  in  an  aggra- 
vated form,  and  for  three  weeks  very  slight  hopes 
were  entertained  by  the  medical  attendant  of  ulti- 
mate restoration.  After  another  month  of  severe 
distress,  improvement  began  to  manifest  itself,  and 
again  he  was  permitted  to  sing  in  the  sanctuary, 
"  I  was  brought  low,  and  he  helped  me." 

To  be  herself  a  prisoner  during  the  greater  por- 
tion of  her  husband's  affliction,  and  to  be  unable  to 
minister  to  him,  was  to  that  tender  heart  an  aggrava- 
tion of  suffering,  which  required  all  the  courageous 
efforts  of  faith  and  patience  to  bear  meekly.  And 
why  was  it  sent  ?  Not  to  awaken  love — in  that 
she  abounded — but  to  make  affection  appear  in 
an  ingenious  method  of  ministration,  which  tended 
much  to  calm  the  slightly  disturbed  intellect  of  her 
fellow-sufferer.  She  wrote  sentiments  and  portions 
of  Scripture  many  times  during  the  day,  and  sent 
them  to  be  read  as  he  could  bear  them.  And  truly 
they  were  like  drops  of  dew  on  the  parched  flower. 
Long  conversations,  or  reading,  or  prayers,  a  head 


46 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


weakened  by  suffering  cannot  endure  ;  but  a  golden 
sentence,  selected  for  you  from  the  book  of  God, 
when  you  cannot  think  for  yourself,  and  sent  unex- 
pectedly, when  you  most  need  help,  is  a  boon  which 
a  gracious  heart  appreciates. 

When  health  was  again  mercifully  vouchsafed  to 
her,  the  work  of  the  Lord  was  her  chief  delight. 
Though  a  dear  lover  of  Nature,  and  with  a  refined 
taste  capable  of  relishing  its  beauties,  all  her  drives 
round  the  country  were  made  subservient  to  the 
welfare  of  souls,  and  were  sure  to  have  associated 
with  them  errands  of  mercy  to  the  villagers.  It  will 
surprise  none  that  she  took  the  deepest  interest  in 
the  beautiful  little  fabrics  which  had  been  erected, 
and  still  more  in  the  congregations  which  assembled 
within  them,  to  listen  to  the  glad  tidings  of  salva- 
tion. 

The  circumstances  attending  the  building  of  one 
of  those  houses  of  prayer,  gave  an  opportunity  for 
the  display  of  her  energy  and  zeal  on  its  behalf, 
and  laid  the  villagers  under  lasting  obligations.  A 
small  estate  descended  by  will  to  a  person  at 

W  ,  with  these  provisions,  namely,  that  if  at 

any  time  the  legatee  should  dispose  of  the  land  for 
erecting  a  place  of  worship  thereon,  it  should  de- 
scend to  another  person.  But  a  blast  seemed  to  rest 
upon  the  property,  and  it  was  obliged  to  be  sold. 
The  committee  of  the  Village  Stations  bought  it, 
and  erected  a  neat  and  commodious  chapel  on  the 
very  site  which  had  been  thus  interdicted.  It  was 
thought,  that  as  the  congregations  of  Reading  were 
much  interested  in  the  movement,  a  sale  of  useful 
and  fancy  articles  would  greatly  assist  in  liquidating 
the  debt  incurred,  and  into  this  effort  Mrs.  Sherman 
threw  all  her  energies.  She  wrote  letters  to  friends 
in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  obtained  contribu- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


47 


tions  from  many  fair  and  Christian  hands.  A  large 
tent,  ordinarily  used  for  anniversary  occasions  in 
the  villages,  was  pitched  in  a  field  in  the  Oxford 
Road,  close  to  the  town  of  Reading.  Decorated 
with  flowers  and  fruits,  with  drawings  and  prints, 
with  needle- work  and  ornaments — it  presented  cer- 
tainly one  of  the  most  pleasing  exhibitions  ordina- 
rily witnessed,  and  drew  from  those  who  cared  little 
about  the  object  of  the  sale,  admiration  and  wonder 
at  the  number  and  quality  of  the  articles  shown. 

Inspired  by  her  example  and  Christian  love, 
many  of  her  female  friends,  with  great  personal 
sacrifices,  joined  in  the  eff'ort,  and  for  two  days  la- 
bored in  their  vocation  with  modesty  and  fidelity. 
The  summit  of  her  hopes  was  to  raise  £50;  but 
the  numerous  gifts,  the  zeal  of  the  friends,  and  the 
willingness  to  purchase,  gave  satisfactory  promise 
of  a  much  larger  amount,  and  in  the  evening,  as 
her  husband  returned  from  preaching  at  one  of 
these  Stations,  she,  with  a  countenance  beaming 
with  benevolence  and  joy — he  thinks  he  sees  it 
now — laid  before  him  a  bag  containing  £97,  as  the 
produce  of  the  first  day's  sale.  The  second  day 
yielded  above  £100,  and  a  benevolent  lady,  as  a 
reward  for  her  diligence,  added  another  hundred, 
so  that  £300,  which  nearly  liquidated  the  whole 
debt,  were  realized  by  her  efforts  in  those  two  days. 
Much  has  been  said  against  these  sales  for  religious 
objects,  but  conducted  and  superintended  as  this 
sale  was,  the  most  scrupulous  would  have  been  si- 
lenced. It  was  begun  with  invoking  by  prayer  the 
blessing  and  favor  of  God,  and  concluded  with 
praise  to  him  for  his  mercies,  which  tended  greatly 
to  keep  every  one  selling,  seriously  cheerful ;  and 
during  the  whole  time,  no  circumstance  occurred  to 
wound  piety,  or  defeat  the  excellent  design. 


48 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


Some  short  time  previous  to  her  marriage,  her 
husband  had  received  a  pressing  invitation  to  be- 
come the  successor  of  the  late  Rev.  Rowland  Hill, 
at  Surrey  Chapel ;  but  as  evangelical  religion  did 
not  flourish  in  the  Church  of  England  at  Reading, 
and  the  claims  of  the  people  of  his  charge  upon  his 
affections  and  labors  were  pre-eminent ;  after  con- 
ference and  prayer  with  the  elders  of  the  Church, 
he  believed  it  to  be  his  duty  to  decline  the  honor- 
able and  important  post.  In  the  spring  of  1836, 
the  invitation  was  renewed,  accompanied  by  a  letter 
from  the  church  and  congregation  at  Surrey  Chapel, 
signed  by  above  1200  persons. 

A  great  alteration  had,  during  the  interval,  taken 
place  in  the  town  of  Reading.  The  pulpit  of  every 
church  but  one  was  occupied  by  an  evangelical 
clergyman  ;  several  of  the  principal  persons  in  the 
congregation,  who  were  attached  members  of  the 
Church  of  England,  had  wholly  left,  to  worship 
with  those  of  their  own  communion,  or  were  in  the 
habit  of  only  partially  attending  at  Castle  Street 
Chapel,  and  the  consequence  was,  that  the  interest 
such  persons  had  previously  felt  in  the  pastor,  and 
the  Church  of  Christ  which  he  served,  was  divided, 
and  it  was  difficult  to  maintain  the  same  commu- 
nion with  them,  or  carry  out  the  same  designs  of 
usefulness,  in  which  formerly  they  had  mutually 
taken  such  deep  interest.  And  although  many 
"clave  unto  him,"  yet  it  seemed  plain  to  his  judg- 
ment, and  to  that  of  his  wife,  that  now  the  Lord 
said  in  his  providence,  "  Arise  ye  and  depart,  for 
this  is  not  your  rest ;"  which  was  confirmed  by 
conference  with  ministerial  brethren,  who  knew  the 
claims  of  both  congregations,  and  who  gave  their 
unanimous  verdict  in  favor  of  a  removal  to  Surrey 
Chapel. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


49 


The  following  letter,  on  the  receipt  of  a  reticule 
beautifully  wrought  by  a  dear  friend  in  London,  and 
sent  for  the  purpose  of  holding  her  tracts  for  Ha- 
nover Square,  will  show  her  feelings  in  leaving,  as 
she  ever  called  it,  "  dear  Reading." 

"  April  8th,  1836. 
"  I  think,  my  sweet  friend,  you  must  have  been 
surprised  at  not  having  received  from  me,  before 
this  time,  some  acknowledgment  of  your  very  elegant 
and  useful  present ;  doubly  useful,  as  containing  two 
beautiful  little  volumes.  Many,  many  thanks  for 
your  great  kindness  to  so  unworthy  an  individual ; 
I  think  it,  at  present,  too  delicate  to  be  appropri- 
ated as  you  intended  ;  the  filthy  tracts  I  usually 
receive  from  Hanover  Square,  would  soon  decide 
the  fate  of  the  reticule :  when  it  has  moved  for  a 
season  in  a  higher  sphere,  and  its  beauty  begins  to 
fade,  it  will  probably  be  applied  as  you  propose  ; 
but  if  I  can  divine  at  all  that  will  not  be  in  dear 
Reading.  How  true  is  the  old  adage,  '  Blessings 
brighten  as  they  take  their  flight.'  I  see  charms 
in  Hanover  Square,  notwithstanding  the  wretched- 
ness of  its  inhabitants,  which  I  never  saw  before, 
when  I  think  of  what  the  poor  of  London  must  be. 
But  I  would  forget  my  comforts,  which,  in  case  of 
our  removal,  must  be  parted  with,  and  lose  my  own 
will  in  that  of  Him  who,  I  firmly  believe,  will  be 
our  Guide.  What  would  we  live  for,  but  to  glorify 
God  ?  and  what  are  outward  comforts  when  com- 
pared with  the  honor — the  luxury  of  working  for 
God.  I  sometimes  look  with  selfish  pleasure  on  my 
pretty  house  and  prospect,  and  grieve  to  exchange 
it  for  smoke  and  confined  air,  &c. ;  but  it  is  not 
always  that  self  so  frightfully  predominates.  If  we 
may  but  be  made  instruments  of  greater  usefulness, 


50 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


and  of  extending  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  nothing 
of  an  earthly  loss  or  sacrifice  will  be  thought  of  in 
comparison." 

After  sixteen  years  of  labor  among  a  devoted 
and  affectionate  people,  it  is  no  easy  thing  for  a 
minister  to  bid  them  farewell,  especially  if  they  be 
the  first  sixteen  years  of  pastoral  effort,  when  zeal 
is  most  fervent,  when  the  affections  are  warmest, 
and  friendships  are  most  easily  formed.  Oh  !  the 
pangs  occasioned  by  tearing  asunder  the  bands  of 
union  between  his  converts  and  him  who  had  be- 
gotten them  in  the  gospel ;  by  leaving  the  frequent- 
ed walk,  and  the  study,  where  the  voice  of  prayer 
had  secretly  ascended  in  fervent  and  constant  sup- 
plications, for  the  Spirit  of  God  to  fill  their  hearts 
and  his  house;  by  turning  away  from  the  spot 
where  his  children  had  been  reared,  and  the  pre- 
cious dust  of  one  who  had  shared  his  early  joys  and 
trials,  was  deposited,  and  by  sacrificing  promised 
wealth  and  independence,  to  obey  what  he  believed 
to  be  the  will  of  God ! 

In  all  these  sensations  the  subject  of  this  Memoir 
largely  shared,  and  cheered  her  husband  with  many 
gladdening  hopes  of  bright  days,  of  glorious  con- 
versions to  Christ  amid  an  abundant  population, 
and  of  causes  of  more  errands  to  God's  throne  to- 
gether, by  reason  of  more  oppressive  duties.  Happy 
the  man  who,  in  such  circumstances,  has  such  "  a 
help  meet  for  him." 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


51 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HER  REMOVAL  TO  SURREY  CHAPEL,  AND  LABORS 
AMONG  THE  YOUNG. 

On  Sabbath  day,  August  27th,  1836,  her  hus- 
band preached  his  last  sermon  at  Castle  Street 
Chapel,  Reading,  to  a  vast  and  deeply-affected 
congregation ;  and  on  the  Tuesday  following,  she 
bade  farewell  to  those  who  had  so  kindly  and  so 
tenderly  assisted  her,  in  her  new  and  responsible 
duties.  Crowds  gathered  round  the  carriage  to 
have  the  last  shake  of  the  hand,  and  a  smile  from 
that  loving  countenance  which  conveyed  such  in- 
expressible sweetness;  while  mutual  good  wishes 
and  prayers  were  exchanged  amid  many  tears. 
After  three  days'  sojourn  at  Enfield  with  her  pa- 
rents, she  took  up  her  residence  at  the  parsonage 
adjoining  Surrey  Chapel,  built  by  Mr.  Hill,  and  in 
which  he  had  lived  for  above  fifty  years. 

It  may  not  be  uninteresting,  and  seems  almost 
necessary,  in  order  to  estimate  her  labors  and  de- 
votedness,  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  the  origin  of 
Surrey  Chapel,  and  the  state  of  the  church  and 
congregation  there,  at  the  time  she  arrived. 

About  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  spi- 
ritual darkness  prevailed  over  England,  and  espe- 
cially over  the  metropolis,  to  an  extent  of  which  at 
present  we  have  but  little  conception.  All  denomi- 
nations of  Christians  were  sunk  into  a  state  of  luke- 
warmness,  and  almost  entirely  neglected  the  claims 
of  a  perishing  population.  Vice  and  immorality 
abounded  among  all  classes  of  the  community,  the 


52 


THE  PASTORS  WIFE)  OR 


Sabbath  day  was  awfully  profaned,  very  few  of  the 
clergy  knew  or  preached  the  gospel,  but  substituted 
a  cold,  heartless  system  of  morality  for  its  soul- 
saving  doctrines;  and  the  few  dissenting  ministers 
who  did  preach  it,  delivered  its  truths  in  a  formal, 
precise,  unimpressive  manner;  so  that  the  number 
of  places  of  worship  was  comparatively  small,  and 
most  were  ill  attended. 

At  this  period,  it  pleased  God  to  raise  up  a  few 
individuals,  who  were  as  eminent  for  their  godliness 
as  for  their  zeal.  Careless  of  the  opinions  of  the 
world,  and  determined  to  exalt  the  kingdom  of 
their  Savior,  they  braved  danger  and  endured  per- 
secution, in  their  efforts  to  awaken  sinners  to  a  con- 
cern for  their  eternal  interests.  The  Revs.  G. 
Whitfield,  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  John  Ber- 
ridge,  W.  Romaine,  John  Newton,  J.  Jones,  are 
names  well  known  in  this  religious  reformation; 
among  the  laity,  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  Sir 
Richard  Hill,  and  several  of  the  nobility  and  gen- 
try, stood  nobly  forward  to  help  in  the  good  work. 
To  the  honored  names  of  these  champions  for  Christ, 
must  be  added  that  of  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill,  who 
was  the  sixth  son  of  Sir  Rowland  Hill,  Baronet,  of 
Hawkstone,  Shropshire.  He  was  educated  at  Eton, 
and  after  taking  his  degree  at  Cambridge,  on  Trinity 
Sunday,  June  6th,  1778,  received  deacon's  orders 
from  Dr.  Wills,  the  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells. 
Yearning  over  the  spiritual  miseries  of  men,  he 
could  not  confine  himself  to  the  more  regular  and 
established  mode  of  preaching  in  a  Church,  but  glad- 
ly engaged  in  that  work  wherever  he  could  gather 
a  congregation,  whether  in  the  market-place  or 
in  the  cathedral,  beneath  the  shade  of  a  tree  or  in 
the  dissenting  meeting-house;  his  object  being  to 
win  souls  to  Christ,  and  ally  them  to  his  spiritual 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


53 


church,  found  in  every  visible  congregation  of  his 
wrorshipers.  After  having  for  some  years  preached 
in  most  of  the  counties  of  England ;  in  many  of  the 
churches,  chapels,  and  streets  of  the  metropolis; 
and  in  the  fields  and  commons  of  its  vicinity,  to 
large  and  deeply-impressed  audiences,  he  determined 
to  erect  a  chapel  in  the  Southern  part  of  London. 

A  liberal  subscription  was  commenced,  to  which 
he  was  the  chief  contributor.  A  site  in  St.  George's 
Fields  was  obtained,  and  the  first  stone  of  Surrey 
Chapel  was  laid  by  its  future  minister,  on  June 
24th,  1782.  In  the  course  of  a  year  it  was  erected, 
and  opened  for  Divine  worship,  June  8th,  1783 ; 
on  which  occasion  its  founder  preached  in  the 
morning,  from  1  Cor.  i.  23,  and  the  Rev.  J.  Piercy 
in  the  evening,  from  Psal.  Ixxiv.  22.  The  building 
is  octagonal,  and  accommodates  between  two  and 
three  thousand  persons. 

Mr.  Hill  continued  the  pastor  during  a  period  of 
nearly  fifty  years,  until  his  death,  which  happened 
on  April  11th,  1833;  and  after  that  event,  for  three 
years  and  a  half,  the  congregation  was  served  by 
ministers  from  various  parts  of  the  country,  till 
September  4th,  1836,  on  which  Sabbath  the  pre- 
sent minister  began  his  responsible  labors  by  preach- 
ing from  Psal.  Ixxi.  16.  "  I  will  go  in  the  strength 
of  the  Lord  God,  I  will  make  mention  of  thy 
righteousness,  even  of  thine  only." 

From  the  foundation  of  Surrey  Chapel,  Mr.  Hill 
had  collected  around  him  a  number  of  holy  and 
liberal  men,  who  by  their  labors  and  property  were 
ever  ready  to  second  and  carry  out  his  designs  of 
usefulness ;  so  that  the  congregation  took  part  in 
originating  some,  and  in  largely  supporting  most  of 
the  existing  institutions  for  evangelizing  the  popu- 
lation, and  for  bettering  their  temporal  condition. 


54 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


It  was  therefore  known,  as  a  focus  of  liberality  and 
activity,  to  which  Mr.  Hill  by  his  munificence  and 
devotedness  set  a  noble  example.  All  its  original 
founders  had  finished  their  earthly  course,  but  a 
band  of  Christians  of  similar  devotedness,  if  not  of 
equal  wealth,  had  been  raised  up  to  succeed  them. 
From  the  infirmities  of  Mr.  Hill  in  the  latter  years 
of  his  life,  he  was  not  able  to  pay  the  same  atten- 
tion to  its  interests,  as  in  his  prime  and  energy  ;  and 
a  term  of  three  years  and  a  half  without  a  pastor, 
was  not  likely  to  improve  the  order  and  interests  of 
the  church  and  congregation.  Still,  even  then  it 
might  be  called  a  flourishing  church.  It  consisted 
of  550  members  in  actual  attendance,  above  2500 
children  were  under  Sabbath  instruction  by  300 
teachers.  The  Benevolent,  Missionary,  Bible,  Tract, 
and  other  Societies  were  prospering,  and  many  be- 
lievers valuing  Christian  privileges,  were  waiting 
until  the  appointment  of  a  pastor,  to  be  united  to 
the  church. 

The  wisdom  required  in  the  newly  appointed  mi- 
nister and  his  wife,  was,  to  keep  this  vast  ma- 
chinery in  accelerated  motion — to  bring  into  use 
these  already  prepared  materials — to  confirm  the 
members  in  their  acts  of  piety  and  devotedness — 
and,  though  without  the  ample  means  of  Mr.  Hill, 
to  set  such  an  example  of  liberality  as  might  ad- 
vance, rather  than  check,  the  generosity  of  the  con- 
gregation. For  such  purposes  Mrs.  Sherman  was 
pre-eminently  adapted,  as  her  future  course  gave 
the  most  satisfactory  evidence ;  and  her  husband, 
on  looking  back,  cannot  but  attribute,  under  the 
Divine  blessing,  much  of  the  harmony,  piety  and 
zeal  evinced,  to  her  prudence,  love,  example,  and 
unceasing  devotedness  to  the  interests  of  the  Church 
and  its  Institutions. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  00 

The  first  object  to  which  she  directed  her  atten- 
tion, was  the  formation  of  a  class  of  young  females, 
too  old  to  attend  the  Sunday-School,  and  too  young 
and  inexperienced  to  assist  in  teaching — with  the 
hope  that  by  preparatory  instruction  and  discipline 
they  might  hereafter  become  intelligent  and  useful 
teachers  in  the  various  schools  belonging  to  the 
congregation.  The  fact  had  often  occasioned  her 
considerable  anxiety,  that  a  very  large  proportion 
of  our  Sunday  scholars,  when  they  arrive  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  or  fifteen,  commence  a  system  of 
Sabbath  profanation,  are  lost  to  the  congregations 
who  train  them,  and  seldom  attend  a  place  of  wor- 
ship ;  and  she  determined,  if  possible,  to  arrest  the 
evil,  by  giving  the  females  an  opportunity  of  still 
obtaining  instruction  without  going  into  the  school. 
The  dining-room  in  the  parsonage  was  appropriated 
to  their  use  on  the  Sabbath  afternoon,  and  she  com- 
menced her  first  effort  with  fifty-three  scholars,  on 
December  1st,  1836,  having  previously  circulated 
the  following  rules  printed  on  a  card  : — 

RULES  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN'S  CLASS. 

"  1.  That  every  member  resolve  to  assist  in  Sabbath-School 
Instruction,  unless  providential  circumstances  interpose,  and 
consider  it  her  duty,  therefore,  to  qualify  herself  for  her  work 
by  diligent  and  prayerful  study  of  the  Word  of  God. 

"  2.  That  every  Member  in  leaving  the  Class  for  this  object, 
inform  the  Teacher  of  her  intention  on  the  previous  Sabbath, 
and  receive  from  her  a  note  of  recommendation  to  the  Super- 
intendent of  the  School  with  which  she  is  to  be  associated. 

"  3.  That  every  member  be  in  her  place  at  half-past  Two, 
and  on  the  fir.u  Sabbath  in  the  Month  at  Three  o'clock;  and 
none  be  admitted  after  the  conclusion  of  Prayer,  unless  a  .latis- 
factory  reason  be  assigned  ;  those  only  being  considered  Mem- 
bers whose  attendance  is  pnnrtnal  and  constant. 

"  4.  That  the  names  of  the  Members  be  read  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  Prayer;  and  those  who  are  absent  during  that  exercise 
more  than  four  times  during  the  Quarter,  without  assigning  a 


56 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


suitable,  reason,  be  erased  from  the  Books,  to  prevent  the  evil 
example  and  disturbance  of  late  attendance. 

"  5.  That  the  use  of  the  Library  be  confined  to  the  regular 
Members  of  the  Class,  and  no  volume  be  retained  more  than  a 
Fortnight :  the  Librarian  vi^ill  renew  the  time,  if  more  is  re- 
quired. 

"  6.  That  every  Member  leave  the  Library  as  soon  as  the 
Meeting  is  closed." 

Her  highest  object  was  to  awaken  conviction  of 
their  sinful  state ;  and  by  lovely  exhibitions  of 
Christ  and  his  salvation,  to  bring  them  to  decision 
for  him.  The  subjects  she  chose  were  plain  and  full 
of  the  gospel ;  the  plenitude  of  grace,  and  the 
beauty  of  holiness,  were  her  favorite  themes,  illus- 
trated with  the  biography  of  the  ancient  saints  of 
holy  writ,  or  of  modern  believers  whose  names  and 
characters  were  fomiliar  to  the  Christian  world. 
She  had  a  peculiarly  happy  art  of  interspersing 
hints  on  neatness  in  dress — on  habits  of  domestic 
economy — on  cleanliness,  order,  and  punctuality — 
on  submission  to  parents — which  told  with  great 
effect  on  their  minds ;  and  many  of  the  scholars, 
now  mothers  of  families,  recollect  and  repeat  those 
monitions  with  gratitude  and  joy.  It  is  remarkable 
how  successful  her  efforts  in  this  class  were,  with 
respect  to  the  decision  of  the  scholars — scarcely 
one  who  continued  with  her  any  length  of  time  re- 
mained unconnected  with  the  church  ;  and  though 
she  had  her  disappointments  and  trials  in  some,  by 
far  the  greater  number  were  ornaments  to  their  pro- 
fession, and  zealous  for  the  extension  of  the  Re- 
deerner's  kingdom. 

After  nearly  twelve  months  of  successful  tuition 
in  this  first  class,  the  young  ladies  of  the  congrega- 
tion desired  that  similar  advantages  might  be  ex- 
tended to  them,  as  the  means  of  bringing  them  to 
God  and  his  church;  and,  much  to  their  honor, 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


57 


they  wrote  an  interesting  letter  of  entreaty,  that 
they  might  share  the  love  and  wisdom  of  her  in- 
structions, at  such  times  as  she  might  feel  consistent 
with  her  increasing  engagements. 

The  following  is  the  answer  sent  to  their  solici- 
tations : 

"Surrey  Parsonage,  Decemher  13th,  1837. 

"Permit  me,  ray  dear  young  friends,  to  express 
the  gratification  which  your  request  has  afforded 
me,  as  it  jiroves  your  desire  after  more  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  those  precious  truths  which  '  are 
able  to  make  us  wise  unto  salvation.'  Happy  should 
I  be,  indeed,  if  my  own  scriptural  knowledge  jus- 
tified your  flattering  supposition  that  I  can  assist 
you;  my  ignorance  is  a  source  of  daily,  though  I 
trust  not  quite  idle  lamentation ;  but  while  I  am 
endeavoring  to  remove  the  evil  1  mourn,  by  read- 
ing and  prayer,  conscience  tells  me  I  shall  decline 
one  most  effectual  means  of  accomplishing  my  ob- 
ject, and  also  incur  guilt,  if  I  refuse  compliance 
with  the  request  to  impart  to  others  my  little  store, 
as  I  obtain  it.  If,  therefore,  my  young  friends  will 
come,  expecting  very  little  from  me,  but  much  from 
that  heavenly  Teacher  who  will,  I  trust,  ever  come 
with  them,  it  will  delight  me  to  do  what  I  can — 
not  to  make  them  theologians — this  is  neither  my 
ambition  nor  my  province — but  to  aid  them,  by  the 
scripture  model  alone,  in  the  formation  of  that 
Christian  character  to  which  they  aspire. 

"You  will  allow  me  to  make  two  stipulations — 
one,  that  perfect  punctuality  be  invariably  observed 
in  meeting  and  separating; — it  will  always  afford 
me  pleasure  to  converse  with  any  who  may  wish  to 
see  me,  but  not  either  before  or  after  these  meet- 
ings, the  time  so  occupied  being  the  utmost  I  can 


5S  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

spare ;  in  addition  to  which,  if  God  should  deign  to 
produce  impression  on  the  mind,  conversation  of 
any  kind  may  remove  it.  Another  stipulation  is, 
that  there  be  much  prayer  for  the  influences  of  the 
Spirit  of  truth,  that  he  may  '  teach  us  all  things,' 
and  smile  upon  the  attempt  from  which  I  shrink, 
while  I  look  at  my  own  utter  insufficiency ; — but 
when  my  faith  can  rest  upon  the  promise,  'my 
grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,  for  ray  strength  is  per- 
fected in  weakness,'  I  can  say  with  confidence — I 
welcome  you;  and  I  believe  we  shall  together 
pluck  of  the  fruits  of  the  tree  of  life,  on  this  side 
of  the  river,  and  eat,  and  live  for  ever. 

"The  first  Tuesday  in  the  month,  at  twelve 
o'clock,  will  suit  my  convenience ;  as  our  first  meet- 
ing, Tuesday,  January  2d,  will  necessarily  be  rather 
introductory,  any  alteration  that  is  deemed  desira- 
ble I  will  endeavor  to  make,  if  then  proposed.  Let 
us  all  be  earnest  in  prayer,  that  we  rnay  be  sancti- 
fied through  the  truth,  and  thus  be  made  meet  for 
the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light. 

"Believe  me,  my  dear  young  friends, 
"  Yours  in  much  affection, 

"M.  Sherman." 

Her  notes  which  are  preserved  show  that  prepa- 
rations for  these  classes  cost  her  much  prayer  and 
labor,  in  order  to  take  to  her  young  friends  some- 
thing suitable  to  their  age,  station,  and  circum- 
stances. Each  exercise  was  written  twice  over, 
once  roughly,  as  thoughts  occurred,  and  treasure 
was  supplied  by  reading — then  more  correctly  ar- 
ranged and  enlarged;  and  each  class  had  its  sepa- 
rate preparation,  for  she  argued  that  as  the  pupils 
were  dissimilar  in  station  and  education,  they  re- 
quired to  be  addressed  accordingly,  and  never 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


59 


would  use  the  exercises  of  one  for  the  other.  Her 
labor  was,  therefore,  proportionately  increased,  but 
a  freshness  and  unction  was  given  to  her  addresses 
which  could  scarcely  have  been  preserved  by  repe- 
tition. It  was  often  a  cause  of  astonishment  to 
those  who  were  with  her,  that  with  engagements 
incident  to  so  large  a  congregation,  which  would 
have  crushed  an  ordinary  mind,  and  with  an  ex- 
ceedingly extensive  and  voluminous  correspondence, 
both  foreign  and  domestic,  which  she  kept  up  with 
remarkable  order  and  spirit,  she  could  find  time  for 
these  well-digested  preparations  ;  yet  she  was  never 
known  to  finish  one  on  the  morning  on  which  she 
delivered  it — it  was  ready  generally  two  or  three 
days  before  it  was  required,  and  never  later  than 
the  previous  evening.  Scraps  of  time  were  so  ju- 
diciously improved,  that  she  seemed  never  to  want 
it.  Every  place,  too,  she  could  make  her  study, 
and  turn  from  one  subject  to  another  with  the 
greatest  facility. 

In  this  manner  she  prepared,  and  afterwards  de- 
livered, a  course  of  studies  on  the  whole  of  the 
book  of  Genesis — on  the  Parables  of  our  Lord — on 
the  addresses  to  the  Seven  Churches  of  Asia — on 
the  Types  of  Christ — on  part  of  the  Epistle  to  the 
Romans — and  on  the  Person,  Work  and  Graces  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  In  describing  to  one  whom  she 
loved,  the  nature  of  these  preparations,  she  ob- 
served, "My  responsibility  often  overwhelmed  me, 
but  it  compelled  me  the  more  frequently  to  visit  the 
throne  of  grace,  and  could  any  one  know  the  pre- 
cious, the  indescribably  precious  communion  I  have 
had  with  God  under  the  lime  trees  at  Enfield,  and 
in  my  chamber,  they  would  envy  me  the  spiritual 
luxury.  So  unskilled  a  mind  as  mine  required  more 
divine  influence  than  others  better  taught,  and  my 


60 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE ;  OR 


Heavenly  Father  was  gracious  to  his  chikl,  in  stir- 
ring up  my  spirit  to  seek  Him,  and  repaid  the  grace 
He  gave,  by  granting,  in  answer  to  prayer,  such 
assurance  of  his  love  and  help,  as  made  me  renew 
the  exercise  Avith  courage  and  hope,  when  most 
ready  to  faint.  In  studying  the  Scriptures,  and  the 
writings  of  holy  men,  to  feed  my  classes,  my  own 
mind  became  nourished  with  the  milk  of  the  gospel. 
I  saw  the  glory  and  grace  of  Christ  more  clearly, 
and  was  the  more  firmly  assured  of  the  things 
which  I  had  previously  believed.  Oh  I  what  a  rich 
reward,  and  what  encouragement  to  others,  to  use 
their  talents  in  the  service  of  God  and  his  Church, 
for  surely  none  could  have  greater  discouragements 
in  making  the  attempt  than  I  experienced." 

The  monthly  class  of  young  ladies  cost  her  more 
anxiety,  in  consequence  of  their  superior  training 
and  advantages,  and  the  greater  backwardness 
which  educated  persons  generally  feel  to  reveal  their 
religious  impressions.  She  thus  writes  to  a  friend 
who  proposed  a  certain  day  and  hour  for  private 
praver,  in  which  they  might  each  engage  in  their 
separate  rooms,  for  a  blessing  on  her  labors  in  the 
class.  "  I  should  rejoice  to  meet  you  at  our  Father's 
throne  on  Saturday  evening,  if  that  time  will  suit 
you.  I  meet  my  beloved  mother  and  others  most 
dear  to  me  at  other  times,  and  that  is  the  time  I 
devote  to  praver  for  my  dear  class.  I  never  suf- 
fered from  despondency  in  any  duty,  as  I  did  in  my 
new  class  on  Tuesday.  I  felt  it  a  complete  failure, 
and  I  believe  the  dear  young  people  must  have  felt 
so  too.  But  I  know  God  can  bless  the  attempt, 
and  sometimes  I  feel  almost  certain  that  he  Avill. 
Oh,  my  dear  friend,  do  wrestle  for  me  with  God, 
that  it  may  prove  a  great  blessing.  I  want  encou- 
ragement in  it,  and  am  asiiamed  of  my  own  fears." 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


61 


Her  fears  were  removed,  and  similar  results  followed 
as  in  her  Sabbath  class. 

The  following  letter,  written  at  the  close  of  the 
same  year  as  the  former,  shows  that  God  granted 
her  heart's  desire,  and  that  few  remained  long  under 
her  tuition  who  were  not  induced  to  leave  the  world 
and  join  themselves  to  the  Lord,  and  in  some  way 
serve  his  church  by  their  labors. 

"  My  very  dear  Friend, 

"  I  return  you  the  letter  with  many  thanks,  and 
regret  that  a  violent  cold  prevents  me  from  doing 
so  personally.  I  am  much  interested  in  its  contents, 
and  I  think  it  should  excite  us  to  prayer  for  that  re- 
viving influence  which  is  promised.  I  am  some- 
times disposed  to  be  much  discouraged  that  no  more 
fruit  is  produced  in  my  class ;  but  God  invariably 
sends  me  some  cheering  news  to  disperse  my  gloom, 
and  stimulate  me  to  more  simplicity  in  my  faith  and 
dependence  on  him. 

"  I  was  in  one  of  my  anxious  moods  yesterday, 
when  the  good  American,  Mr.  Dawes,  consented  to 
take  my  class  ;  he  enquired  how  many  had  decided 
for  Christ ;  I  told  him  it  was  my  distress  that  very 
day,  to  think  that  scarcely  more  than  half  a  dozen, 
out  of  the  thirty-eight,  were  members  of  the  church. 
My  dear  husband  doubted  my  statement,  and  we 
began  to  reckon,  when,  to  my  joy,  I  found  that  half 
the  number  at  least  are  members,  and  all  but  one 
have  joined  since  they  entered  it.  This  is  great 
cause  for  gratitude,  and  I  have  thought,  if  we  imi- 
tated the  apostle  in  forgetting  the  things  which  are 
behind,  and  reaching  forth  to  those  which  are  before, 
how  much  wiser  we  should  be ;  we  must  look  at 
what  God  has  done,  instead  of  looking  at  our  own 
weakness,  and  grumbling.    Oh  !  what  an  honor  it 


62  THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 

is  to  be  permitted  to  tell  of  a  Savior's  love  ;  how 
much  more  to  have  that  love  in  our  own  hearts, 
where  enmity  once  reigned !  and  then  to  have  the 
sanction  of  heaven  in  our  feeble  efforts,  by  the  Spi- 
rit's influences  accompanying  them,  and  rendering 
them  successful ;  this  is  happiness  indeed.  What 
must  heaven  be,  where  we  shall  see  Him  of  whom 
we  love  to  tell,  and  where  none  but  happy  spirits 
can  be.  May  we  be  there,  and  be  permitted  to 
have  a  long  train  of  '  children'  given  to  us,  and 
cast  our  crowns  at  the  feet  of  Him  '  who  hath  loved 
us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood.' 
May  we  swell  the  full  choir  of  glorified  ones  in  the 
song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb. 

"  Ever  yours  in  the  best  bonds, 

"  M.  Sherman." 

The  success  did  not,  however,  wholly  arise  from 
oral  instruction ;  her  letters  were  also  a  means  of 
great  usefulness.  Most  of  the  young  persons  had 
mementoes  of  her  care  for  their  souls  in  her  own 
hand  writing,  and  in  not  a  few  instances  their  de- 
cision was  attributed  to  these  utterances  of  her 
heart.  The  following  specimens  out  of  a  very  large 
number  will  be  read  with  great  interest.  The 
first  is  to  a  young  friend  who  had  previously  been 
deprived  of  her  mother  by  death,  and  had  now  lost 
her  eldest  sister. 

"  Clay  Hill,  Enfield,  October  25th,  1839. 
"My  deab  young  Friend, 
"  The  intelligence  of  your  dear  sister's  removal 
did  not  reach  me  till  half  an  hour  before  the 
post  left  Enfield,  or  I  should  have  written  a  few 
lines  to  you  immediately,  to  express  my  sympathy 
with  you  in  your  very  deep  affliction.   I  think  I  may 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


63 


truly  say  I  sympathize  with  you,  for  when  but  a 
few  years  older  than  yourself,  I  was  called  to  part 
with  an  only  sister — one  most  tenderly  beloved,  and 
for  whose  superior  piety  and  judgment  I  had  the 
greatest  reverence — we  were  indeed  like  Jonathan 
and  David,  and  I  thought  it  impossible  to  live  with- 
out her.  I  can,  therefore,  feel  for  you,  my  beloved 
young  friend,  in  the  loss  of  her,  who  in  some  de- 
gree filled  the  place  of  your  lamented  mother,  and 
whose  counsel  and  care  you  can  receive  no  more. 
But  this  is  the  dark  side  of  the  painful  dispensa- 
tion :  there  is  a  bright  and  glorious  side,  and  happy, 
indeed,  shall  I  be  if  we  can  sympathize  with  each 
other  there.  When  my  own  Mary  was  taken  from 
me,  heaven,  as  the  dwelling-place  of  God,  had  no 
attractions  for  me  ;  my  heart  was  unrenewed  and 
unhumbled  for  sin ;  but  when  that  heaven  was  the 
abode  of  her  happy  spirit,  my  thoughts  were  con- 
stantly there,  and  I  longed  to  be  with  her — earth 
had  lost  its  great  attraction — nothing  could  fill  the 
dreadful  blank  which  her  removal  occasioned.  It 
pleased  God,  at  last,  to  convince  me  that  it  was 
sin  which  made  me  so  desolate,  and  that  place  in 
my  heart  He  could  more  than  fill :  this  led  me  to 
seek  that  pardon  which  alone  could  unite  me  to 
Jesus,  and  that  '  holiness  without  which  no  man 
can  see  the  Lord  ;'  and  my  earnest  prayer  was,  that 
I  might  prove  my  love  to  her,  not  by  fruitless  re- 
pining at  my  loss,  but  by  following  in  her  steps,  by 
consecrating  myself  wholly  to  the  service  of  Him 
whom  she  had  loved  and  humbly  sought  to  glorify. 

"  I  would  not  thus  write  about  myself,  dear,  but 
to  direct  you  to  the  same  Source  of  comfort.  To 
our  finite  minds  it  may  seem  mysterious  that  one 
so  beloved  and  useful  should  be  taken  from  us  in 
early  youth;  but  remember  how  little  we  know 


64 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


what  God  designs  by  His  providences.  His  thoughts 
are  not  our  thoughts,  nor  his  ways  our  ways,  hap- 
pily for  us :  if  ever  we  reach  yonder  happy  world, 
we  shall  understand  why  these  painful  dispensa- 
tions were  permitted ;  till  then,  ever  bear  in  mind 
that  '  God  is  love,'  not  only  when  He  grants  us  that 
which  delights  us,  but  when  he  sends  deep  afflic- 
tion, bereavement  and  pain :  and  God  designs  your 
good,  and  seeks  your  happiness  in  this  trial;  do 
not  lose  the  blessing.  There  is  one  tie  less  to 
earth;  think  of  that  pure  world,  where  her  happy 
spirit  is  now  rejoicing  in  her  Savior's  love :  that 
Savior's  precious  blood  purchased  heaven  for  her, 
and  that  blood  and  that  heaven  He  offers  to  you. 
Remember,  dear,  this  world  is  but  the  passage  to 
that  bright  world ;  keep  that  in  sight,  and  beware 
of  any  thing  that  may  shade  it  from  your  view — • 
sin  only  can  do  this — this  separates  the  soul  from 
God.  Oh!  never  rest  until  sin  is  pardoned  through 
that  precious  '  blood  which  cleanseth  from  all  sin,' 
and  that  righteousness  which  justifies  the  'sinner 
that  believes  in  Jesus.'  Pant  after  holiness,  that 
you  may  be  fitted  for  that  world  where  'nothing 
can  enter  that  defileth.'  Take  up  your  cross  and 
follow  Jesus :  be  satisfied  with  nothing  short  of  the 
entire  consecration  of  yourself  to  Him,  who  invited 
you  to  'come  unto  Him  that  you  may  have  life.' 
Think  of  the  joy  that  will  fill  heaven,  and  the  souls 
of  your  dear  sainted  mother  and  sister,  to  hear  the 

tidings  through  some  angelic  messenger,  that  A  

had  'chosen  that  good  part  that  shall  never  be 
taken  from  her.'  And  would  there  not  be  joy  on 
earth  too  ?  think  of  the  tender  heart  of  youi-  dear 
bereaved  father;  how  would  his  grief  be  forgotten 
in  the  joy  of  witnessing  your  decision  for  Christ. 
And  would  not  my  heart  rejoice  to  receive  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


65 


sweet  answer  to  many  a  prayer  in  your  conversion 
to  Jesus?  Be  much  in  prayer,  dear;  you  have  need 
of  much  wisdom  in  your  doubly  responsible  situa- 
tion; seek  it  as  a  promised,  as  well  as  a  desired 
blessing,  and  never  lean  to  your  own  understanding. 
You  have  to  comfort  your  beloved  father's  heart — 
to  study  his  happiness — to  strive  to  lessen  his 
anxieties  in  every  way — and,  as  far  as  possible,  to 
fill  the  places  of  those  who  are  gone.  Let  love  be 
your  motto  in  every  thing — strive  to  make  every 
one  happier  for  your  presence  ;  this  will  draw  your 
mind  away  from  your  individual  sorrow,  and  stimu- 
late you  to  extract  advantages  from  this  trial. 

"It  is  really  presumption  in  me  to  utter  a  word 
of  advice  to  one  so  highly  privileged  as  you;  but 
as  one  of  the  members  of  my  little  humble  Bible 
class,  I  feel  a  double  interest  in  you,  and  my  heart- 
felt prayer  for  you  has  long  been,  that  you  might 
'  be  blest  and  made  a  blessing.'  Mamma  and  papa, 
(whom  you  know  only  by  name,)  desire  me  to  pre- 
sent to  you  and  your  dear  papa,  their  kind  regards 
and  sympathy.  Dear  Selina  feels  much  for  you,  and 
were  she  here,  would  unite  in  affectionate  love  with, 
"My  dear  young  friend, 

"Yours  most  sincerely, 

"M.  Sherman." 

The  following  extract  discovers  her  jealousy 
over  their  piety,  and  her  anxiety  that  it  should  be 
of  the  most  exalted  kind. 

"Surrey  Parsonage,  Oct.  4th,  1839. 
"My  dear  young  Friend, 
"I  often  look  at  you  and  your  dear  sister  with 
intense  interest,  and  long  to  know  your  progress  in 
your  heavenly  way ;  for  the  truth  and  soundness  of 


66  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

our  profession  of  devotedness  to  Christ,  are  tested 
by  our  'growth  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ.'  Is  this  the 
case  with  my  dear  young  friend?  Is  your  spirit 
more  meek  and  humble,  and  self-denying,  and 
Christ-like?  Are  you  habitually  'striving  against 
sin?'  for  remember,  'He  that  is  born  of  God  cannot 
sin:'  it  must  be  a  struggle,  therefore,  with  the  old 
nature,  till  it  is  entirely  brought  into  captivity,  even 
every  thought  to  the  obedience  of  Christ.  Do  you 
shrink  at  the  spirituality  and  extent  of  the  law  of 
God,  or  wish  it  less  strict,  and  that  it  would  allow 
more  conformity  to  the  world  ?  or  do  you  say  with 
David,  'Oh!  how  love  I  thy  law,  it  is  my  medita- 
tion all  the  day?'  How  important  is  this  self- 
scrutiny  !  if  we  deceive  ourselves  in  the  affairs  of 
the  soul,  the  delusion  may  be  fatal.  If  we  are 
'  born  again,'  our  will  agrees  with  the  will  of  God : 
what  He  commands,  it  is  our  delight  to  fulfill: 
let  us  ask  ourselves,  have  we  thus  the  spirit  of 
Christ,  without  which  we  are  none  of  his?  I  long 
for  all  the  dear  young  people  of  my  class  to  be 
patterns  of  holiness  and  devotedness;  separated 
from  the  world  both  in  its  pleasures  and  spirit ;  but 
especially  for  those,  who  by  their  public  profession 
of  Christ,  have  the  eyes  of  the  world  gazing  at 
them,  and  have  the  vows  of  God  upon  them.  Be 
much  in  prayer,  in  communion  with  God  and  your 
own  heart,  and  in  the  prayerful  study  of  your  Bible, 
and  make  Christ  your  model  for  imitation,  and  you 
will  'grow  in  grace.'  Pardon  these  few  hasty 
thoughts  from  the  heart  of,  my  dear  young  friend, 
"Yours  most  sincerely  and  affectionately, 
"M.  Sherman." 


The  next  is  to  one  who  had  expressed  her  wish 


MEMOIR  01-    MRS.  SHERMAN. 


67 


to  become  a  teacher  in  the  Surrey  Chapel  Sunday- 
Schools. 

"My  dear  young  Friend, 
"I  saw  Mr.  H.  yesterday,  and  named  your  wish 
to  become  a  teacher ;  he  says  at  present  he  has  not 
a  vacancy  for  a  junior  teacher,  but  he  will  remem- 
ber you  as  a  candidate ;  this  will  prevent  the  ne- 
cessity of  your  leaving  the  class  on  Sunday.  Should 
we  be  spared  to  the  day  when  the  privilege  of  Sun- 
day-School teaching  shall  be  yours,  I  may  probably 
be  able  to  receive  you  into  the  other  class ;  at  pre- 
sent, you  had  better  remain  as  you  are.  But  though 
this  means  of  usefulness  is  for  a  time  postponed,  I 
hope  it  will  not  prevent  your  usefulness  in  some 
other  way.  We  are  born  to  be  useful.  God  is 
always  dispensing  happiness  around  this  great  uni- 
verse which  He  has  created ;  and  as  man  was 
created  in  the  Divine  likeness,  he  is  to  do  likewise. 
The  effect  of  sin  is  to  destroy  God's  image  in  the 
soul,  and  consequently  its  usefulness :  when,  by  the 
work  of  redemption  by  Christ,  and  the  regenerating 
influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  image  begins  to 
be  restored,  then  we  begin  to  be  useful,  and  to  seek 
the  glory  of  God,  and  the  promotion  of  His  cause, 
as  our  chief  delight.  Be  sure,  my  dear  child,  that 
this  work  of  the  Spirit  is  wrought  in  you.  Do  not 
mistake  a  preference  for  good  things,  for  conversion 
to  God ;  education  may  effect  the  one,  but  the 
Spirit  of  God  must  perform  the  other.  Seek  that 
this  Spirit  may  be  abundantly  bestowed  on  you, 
and  improve  the  interval  before  you  join  the  church 
of  Christ  in  self-examination — whether  your  cha- 
racter will  bear  the  Scriptural  test,  and  in  seek- 
ing to  know  more  of  Christ  and  his  salvation,  strive 
to  prepare  yourself,  by  the  prayerful  and  diligent 


68  THE  pastor's  wife;  ok 

study  of  your  Bible,  to  become  a  valuable  Sabbath- 
School  teacher.  May  God  sweetly  encourage  and 
sanctify  you,  is  the  earnest  prayer  of 

"Your  very  sincere  friend, 

"  M.  Sherman." 
'•'Surrey  Parsonage,  May  8th,  1841." 

A  young  lady  had  left  her  class  for  a  situation  in 
a  school  in  the  country,  but  distance  or  separation 
did  not  diminish  the  interest  her  teacher  felt  in  her 
decision  for  Christ,  as  the  following  precious  epistle 
to  her  will  declare. 

"  Clay  Hill,  Enfield,  July  1st,  1841. 
"My  dear  young  Friend, 
"  I  have  often  had  you  in  my  thoughts  since  you 
left  London,  and  have  very  often  wished  to  tvrite 
to  you,  to  prove  that  I  still  feel  a  deep  interest  in 
you,  and  by  no  means  less  so  now  that  you  are  out 
of  sight.  We  are  very  apt  to  be  too  dependent 
on  our  senses,  and  to  forget  that  which  is  unasso- 
ciated  with  them.  What  we  seldom  hear,  the  friends 
we  seldom  see,  and  the  sweets  we  seldom  taste,  are 
easily  forgotten,  unless  there  be  something  more 
than  usually  interesting  in  them  in  our  estimation. 
This  is  the  reason  that  you,  dear,  whom  I  have  not 
seen  for  some  months,  and  whom  I  have  seldom 
talked  with  at  all,  are  yet  remembered  by  me  with 
deep  interest.  I  feel  that  you  have  a  precious  soul, 
capable  of  enjoying  God,  and  powers  of  mind  for 
which  you  are  responsible ;  they  were  created  for 
God's  glory,  and  when  sin  directed  them  to  dis- 
honor and  displease  Him,  He  gave  up  his  well-be- 
loved Son  to  be  your  substitute,  that  a  way  might 
be  opened  for  your  restoration  to  the  divine  favor, 
by  his  obedience  and  atonement ;  and  to  the  divine 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


69 


likeness,  by  the  purchase  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
sanctify  your  soul.  I  believe  you  often  desire  that 
the  blessings  which  Jesus  has  thus  procured  for 
those  who  will  receive  them,  were  yours ;  but  I 
want  you  to  come  to  a  point,  and  resolve  that  you 
will  not  rest  until  you  are  a  child  of  God.  If  there 
could  be  a  middle  state,  in  which  you  might  be 
safe,  still  I  could  not  be  happy  for  you  to  remain 
there.  I  want  you  to  share  the  verij  highest  en- 
joyments of  heaven,  to  be  one  of  the  brightest  stars 
in  glory,  and  to  have  '  an  abundant  entrance  minis- 
tered to  you  into  the  everlasting  kingdom'  of  Christ : 
and  I  could  never  be  contented  for  any  one  just  to 
enter  heaven — ^just  to  be  safe  from  hell ;  but  if  you 
are  not  the  friend  of  God,  you  are  his  enemy — if 
you  are  not  his  child,  you  are  Satan's.  It  seems 
very  difficult  to  believe  that  an  amiable  character 
can  be  the  enemy  of  any,  but  especially  of  God : 
but  Christ  himself  says,  '  He  that  is  not  with  me  is 
against  me.'  So  if  you  are  wavering  and  undeci- 
ded for  Him,  you  are  among  his  enemies !  Awful 
thought !  My  beloved  child,  do  not  hesitate  an- 
other moment,  but,  in  the  retirement  of  your  closet, 
seek  that  grace  which  shall  enable  you  to  give  up 
your  whole  heart  to  Christ,  and  resolve  in  his 
strength  that  you  will  be  His  obedient  child ;  that 
you  will  rest  your  whole  salvation  on  His  merits 
alone,  and  strive  to  be  what  He  would  have  you. 
Let  the  desire  to  please  Him  be  your  ruling  motive 
in  every  thought,  word,  and  deed.  In  all  your 
studies,  pursue  them  with  the  view  to  make  you  a 
more  valuable  servant  of  Christ ;  and  to  fit  you  to 
dwell  with  Him  in  glory,  and  to  enable  you  to 
bring  others  to  glory.  Make  the  Bible  your  con- 
stant, prayerful  study  ;  let  it  be  '  hid'  in  your  heart, 
that  you  '  sin  not  against'  Him  ;  and  when  tempted 


70 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


to  sin,  remember  that  you  will  grieve  His  Holy 
Spirit  if  you  do,  and  most  ungratefully  requite  His 
boundless  love  to  you. 

"  Oh  I  my  dear  child,  if  we  could  view  our  hearts 
as  God  sees  them,  how  should  we  loathe  ourselves, 
and  blush  that  He  should  behold  in  us  such  defor- 
mity ;  but  it  is  only  when  we  see,  by  faith,  the 
agonies  which  the  Son  of  God  has  endured  for  us, 
to  procure  our  deliverance  from  the  curse,  and 
power,  and  love  of  sin,  that  we  are  led  to  mourn 
over  it  as  that  abominable  thing  which  God  hates, 
and  to  repent  in  tears  of  bitter  sorrow  ;  this  the 
Spirit  of  God  alone  can  show  us.  For  this  Spirit 
pray  continually,  until  the  promise  is  fulfilled,  and 
you  are  made  indeed  a  child  of  God  ;  and,  if  spared 
to  return  to  school,  try  to  be  a  little  missionary 
there,  and  to  increase  the  number  of  those  happy 
beings  who  choose  the  pleasant  path  of  wisdom — 
*  Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her 
paths  are  peace.'    Every  effort  for  the  good  of 


in  prayer,  and  do  not  yield  to  the  difficulties  which 
school  may  present.  Keep  in  mind  the  privilege 
as  well  as  the  necessity  of  prayer,  and  try  to  per- 
suade your  companions  to  the  exercise  ;  so  you  will 
be  aiding  to  bring  the  answer  to  your  own  petition, 
'  Thy  kingdom  come.'  We  must  all  unite  our  en- 
ergies to  make  others  happy,  and  happiness  is  found 
only  in  obedience  to  the  happy  commands  of  our 
Father  in  heaven.  Give  joy  in  heaven  and  on 
earth,  by  the  consecration  of  yourself  wholly  to  his 
service,  and  believe  me, 

"Your  very  sincere  and  affectionate  friend, 


others  will  bring  hh 


irself.    Be  much 


"Martha  Sherman." 


Sometimes,  to  display  God's  sovereignty  and 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


71 


grace,  one  is  selected  and  brought  to  himself,  from 
a  family  wholly  consisting  of  worldly  minds,  who 
discourage  if  they  do  not  persecute  and  oppose. 
Her  judicious  advice  to  one  of  the  class  in  such 
circumstances,  will  commend  itself  to  every  pious 
mind,  and  is  worthy  of  special  attention  from  any 
who  are  similarly  placed. 

"My  dear  young  Friend, 
"  My  time  has  been  much  engaged  since  I  have 
been  here,  or  I  should  have  written  a  few  lines  to 
you  before  this  ;  but  I  have  not  forgotten  you  ;  in- 
deed, you  have  been  much  in  my  thoughts.  It  is 
very  difficult  to  exhibit  the  Christian  character  in 
any  situation,  surrounded  and  beset  with  snares  as 
we  are,  from  evil  hearts  of  sin  and  unbelief  within, 
and  the  world  and  Satan  without,  even  when  all 
around  us  delight  in  our  decision  for  Christ.  But 
what  must  it  be  to  maintain  it  amidst  opposition 
and  ridicule  ?  and  what  must  be  the  anguish  of  that 
mind  which  witnesses  the  opposition  in  hearts  most 
tenderly  beloved,  and  from  which  it  feels  there 
must  be  eternal  separation,  unless  a  miracle  of  grace 
interfere.  I  deeply  feel  for  you  on  this  account, 
but  He  who  placed  you  as  a  solitary  Christian  in 
your  family,  knows  what  a  large  measure  of  grace 
you  need  ;  '  His  strength  is  perfected  in  weakness,' 
and  He  can  make  all  grace  to  abound  toward  you. 
Your  situation  is  one  that  demands  much  watchful- 
ness and  prayer ;  your  eminent  consistency  of 
Christian  character  will  do  far  more  to  convince  the 
gainsayers  than  a  thousand  exhortations  ;  not  that 
I  would  advise  you  to  neglect  to  warn  them,  for 
they  can  scarcely  believe  you  think  them  in  danger 
of  eternal  misery,  if  you  make  no  visible  effort  to 
save  them.    But  the  judicious  prayerful  effort  of  a 


72  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

Christian,  whose  character  stands  out  from  those 
around  her  for  purity  and  benevolence  of  principle, 
self-denial  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of 
others,  can  scarcely  fail  of  removing  prejudice  and 
producing  a  feeling  in  favor  of  religion  itself;  which 
is  at  least  one  impediment  removed,  and  so  far  a 
preparation  for  their  receiving  the  gospel.  I  am 
always  more  anxious  for  the  development  of  emi- 
nent piety  in  those  who  are  situated  as  you  are, 
than  in  others,  on  this  account ;  though  I  feel  as- 
sured that  what  we  call  eminent  piety,  is  only  what 
piety  ought  in  every  instance  to  be,  and  I  strongly 
question  the  genuineness  of  that  piety  which  is  satis- 
fied with  any  thing  short  of  the  perfect  likeness  of 
Christ.  Though  we  know  we  shall  never  be  with- 
out sin,  consequently,  never  perfectly  like  Christ, 
until  we  reach  heaven,  where,  indeed,  we  shall  be 
like  Him,  '  for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is ;'  yet  our 
aim  must  be  there  ;  we  must  have  some  pattern  for 
imitation,  and  none  but  a  perfect  one  will  avail : 
the  most  exalted  Christian  is  defiled  with  sin,  even 
in  his  best  estate,  therefore,  he  will  not  do  for  a 
pattern  :  no,  we  must  press  toward  the  mark,  and 
lay  aside  every  impediment  to  our  progress,  '  look- 
ing unto  Jesus.'  Keep  your  eye  there,  my  dear 
friend,  and  never  submit  to  lower  motives  or  prin- 
ciples than  those  which  actuated  the  Son  of  God  ; 
there  is  much  to  chill  and  damp  your  piety  and 
zeal,  when  none  sympathizes  with  you,  but  let  this 
drive  you  nearer  to  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  to 
gather  faith,  and  love,  and  vigor,  and  every  needed 
grace  from  the  rich  treasury  which  He  has  provided 
for  all  who  apply  to  Him.  It  is  in  this  way  trials 
prove  blessings — by  driving  us  to  Christ.  When 
the  creature-stream  fails,  we  are  driven  to  the  Foun- 
tain, which  can  never  be  exhausted.    Keep  close 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


73 


there,  make  your  Bible  your  constant  prayerful 
study.  Seek  to  have  your  views  of  the  truth  and 
and  of  the  plan  of  salvation  very  clear ;  frequently 
study  the  grand  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and  do  not 
depend  on  the  knowledge  you  have  of  them ;  an 
error  here  would  be  fatal ;  and  on  incorrect  views, 
inconsistent  conduct  is  continually  based.  There 
must  be  growth  '  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,'  as  well  as  '  in  grace,'  and  let  that 
knowledge  be  drawn  immediately  from  the  well- 
spring — the  Bible.  Search  every  word,  with  prayer 
for  that  spirit  which  alone  can  truly  enlighten,  and 
let  your  light  so  shine  before  men  that  they  may 
see  your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which 
is  in  heaven.'  Give  God  no  rest,  until  every  mem- 
ber of  your  family  is  converted  to  Christ.  Why 
were  you  selected  to  be  a  recipient  of  His  grace  ? 
Not  for  your  own  merits ;  then  it  must  be  of  his 
free  and  sovereign  grace,  and  you  are  bound  to  com- 
municate to  others  what  has  been  so  freely  granted 
to  you.  Home  is  your  little  garden,  which  you 
must  diligently  cultivate  ;  you  must  seek  to  remove 
all  the  stones,  which  would  check  the  progress  of 
vegetation,  all  the  impediments  to  the  existence  of 
piety ;  perhaps  there  may  be  many  besides  those  in 
the  heart,  which  are  outward,  in  family  arrange- 
ments, which  your  influence  may  be  able  to  remove. 
If  your  piety  is  that  which  they  cannot  but  ap- 
prove, you  have  more  influence  on  that  account, 
and  your  wishes  would  probably  be  law  to  them. 
This  is  only  the  first  step  in  the  cultivation  of  your 
garden  ;  you  have  to  dig,  to  sow,  to  plant,  to  water, 
and  to  do  every  thing  which  the  gardener  who  cares 
for  his  garden  will  attempt.  And,  oh  !  what  weeds 
you  have  to  destroy!  Seek,  my'dear  friend,  that 
the  moral  desert  around  you  may  become  as  *  the 


74 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


garden  of  the  Lord,  that  He  may  be  glorified.'  I 
should  be  very  glad  to  hear  from  you. 
"  Believe  me,  your  very  sincere, 

and  affectionate  friend, 

"  Martha  Sherman." 

July,  1841. 

The  inconsiderateness  of  friends,  both  young  and 
old,  requesting  those  filling  important  stations,  and 
whose  time  is  much  occupied  with  paramount  du- 
ties, to  write  to  them  at  special  seasons  of  their  his- 
tory, is  judiciously  treated  and  improved  in  the 
following  extract: — 

"Surrey  Parsonage,  August  10th,  1841. 
"My  dear  Friend, 
"I  cannot  refuse  your  request  to  give  you  a  line 
of  remembrance  on,  not  your  birth-day,  but  the  day 
after.  My  dear  friend  must  remember  that  such  a 
step  is  a  precedent  which  might  occasion  not  a  little 
difficulty.  Many  young  friends  ask  for  a  letter  on 
their  birth-day,  and  if  I  could  transmit  my  wishes 
to  paper  by  a  magic  touch,  I  would  never  refuse ; 
but  if  one  has  her  request  granted,  all  have  a  claim ; 
and  then,  tell  me,  how  can  I  meet  such  a  demand 
from  so  many  kind  hearts,  however  quickly  I  may 
scrawl :  for  the  quantity  of  writing  which  is  una- 
voidable takes  up  so  much  time,  that,  contrary  to 
my  approval,  I  am  obliged  to  scrawl.  The  time 
which  such  an  additional  correspondence  would 
occupy,  would  require  the  neglect  of  many  import- 
ant duties;  therefore,  I  write  not  on  your  birth-day, 
that  the  circumstance  of  writing  to  you  may  not 
be  used  as  an  argument  with  others.  But  why  does 
ray  dear  friend  ask  me  to  write  to  her?  You  have 
not  to  be  urged  to  decision  on  the  return  of  the  day 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


75 


which  leads  most  young  people  to  think  a  little  se- 
riously. Your  heart  was  surrendered  to  Him  who 
claims  it,  years  before  mine,  and  your  Christian 
progress  must,  therefore,  have  so  far  outstripped 
mine,  that  I  am  too  distant  from  you  to  urge  you 
onward;  unless,  as  you  run  your  race,  you  occa- 
sionally look  back  in  humility  and  self-abasement 
at  the  path  you  have  trodden,  and  mark  the  zig- 
zag foot-marks,  which  tell  you  how  often  you  would 
have  gone  aside,  but  for  Him  who  directed  and  up- 
held you;  and  while  thus  reviewing  the  past,  you 
hear  a  voice  crying  to  you,  '  Go  forward:' — 'Press 
toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling 
of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.' — '  Lay  aside  every  weight, 
and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset  you,  and  run 
%vith  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  you,  look- 
ing unto  Jesus.'  Though  far  behind  you,  my  cry 
for  myself  and  for  others  is,  'Lord  urge  us  on;'  and 
perhaps  you  may  overhear  that  cry.  These  are 
days  which  call  for  more  than  ordinary  devotedness 
to  Christ.  The  day  is  hastening  when  the  Christian 
is  to  be  sifted,  and  '  he  that  endureth  to  the  end 
shall  be  saved.'  That  day  will  probably  introduce 
the  millenial  glory,  for  which  we  must  all  labor ; 
when  every  heart  shall  yield  to  '  Him  whose  right 
it  is  to  reign.'  Then  the  despised,  rejected  Jew 
shall  be  '  brought  in  with  the  fullness  of  the  Gen- 
tiles,' and  the  blessing,  according  to  His  promise, 
be  given  to  him  that  favors  his  Israel,  '  Blessed  is 
he  that  blesseth  thee.'  If  God  still  loves  his  an- 
cient people,  shall  we  not  love  them  too,  and  strive 
after  the  time  when  the  curse  shall  be  removed,  and 
'  Israel  shall  turn  to  the  Lord  ?'  My  heart  is  ill  at 
ease  on  their  account.  I  long  to  contribute  towards 
the  hastening  of  their  return  to  the  Lord,  but  the 
party  who  prominently  take  up  their  cause  is  so 


76  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

exclusive,  that  little  is  left  but  prayer.  I  think  I 
can  respond  to  the  Apostle's  language,  '  My  heart's 
desire  and  prayer  for  Israel  is,  that  they  might  be 
saved.'  How  glorious  shall  that  'day'  be,  when 
the  veil  shall  be  taken  away,  and  thousands  be  born 
unto  God.  May  I  urge  you  to  more  persevering 
prayer  on  their  behalf:  you  will  reap  the  i)enefit 
as  well  as  they.  My  heart  rejoices  in  your  useful- 
ness, my  dear  friend ;  and  I  pray  that  you  '  may 
abound  therein  more  and  more.'  May  your  birth- 
days be  many,  many  times  renewed,  and  each  one 
witness  increasing  devotedness  to  our  blessed  Re- 
deemer, and  more  of  his  likeness  too :  more  humility 
and  spirituality  of  mind,  with  more  entire  consecra- 
tion to  his  service. 

"  Forgive  this  hurried,  ill- written  epistle,  which 
bears  with  it,  though  unexpressed,  the  fondest 
wishes  of, 

"  My  dear  friend, 

"  Yours  very  affectionately, 

"  Martha  Sherman." 

It  was  very  difficult  to  persuade  her  at  any  time 
that  her  labors  had  been  useful,  or  could  produce 
fruit  to  God  ;  but  when  the  evidence  was  complete 
and  irresistible,  her  heart  overflowed  with  angelic 
joy.  To  one  of  her  class,  she  thus  utters  it,  and 
shows  that  we  do  not  answer  the  end  of  our  exist- 
ence, if  our  object  and  effort  be  not  to  save  and 
bless  our  race. 

''Clay  Hill,  Enfield,  June  10th,  1841. 
"  My  very  dear  Friend, 
"If  my  inclinations  were  the  guides  of  my  con- 
duct, how  different  would  that  conduct'  be  from 
what  it  is !  In  some  things,  I  fear,  they  would  lead 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


77 


me  to  much  evil,  though  with  an  intention  to  do 
good  :  and  in  others,  much  benefit  might  result,  and 
much  pleasure  be  communicated  by  inclination 
having  its  v^^ay.  My  inclination  told  me  to  write 
to  you  as  soon  as  I  reached  Enfield,  and  its  sweet 
retirement;  but  my  time  is  scarcely  at  my  own 
disposal,  and  I  feel  that  I  must  snatch  opportuni- 
ties like  my  sweet  friend.  Stolen  moments  often 
afford  us  the  richest  enjoyments,  and  we  appreciate 
most  that  which  has  cost  us  some  little  difficulty  to 
obtain,  or  to  accomplish ;  and  I  do  not  think  you 
will  spurn  the  broken  unconnected  effusion  of  a 
heart  that  dearly  loves  you,  because  it  does  not 
bear  the  marks  of  study  and  arrangement.  Friend- 
ship prizes  intentions,  and  Christian  friendship 
never  suspects :  and  I  trust  there  is  a  sacred  bond 
uniting  our  hearts  to  each  other,  though  our  mu- 
tual circumstances  prevent  much  exhibition  of  it. 
The  love  which  springs  from  the  Cross,  unites 
every  heart  that  has  laid  its  burthen  beneath  it ; 
the  blood-sprinkled  soul  recognizes  its  fellow,  and 
even  Christian  sympathy  must  unite  them;  but 
there  is  a  still  sweeter  endearment  when  minds 
have  been  associated  as  ours ;  you,  as  a  lamb  in 
the  flock  over  which  my  dear  husband  is  the  under- 
shepherd,  and  both  of  us  as  mingling  our  efforts  to 
understand  the  Sacred  Page.  What  joy  and  grati- 
tude did  you  excite  in  my  oft-discouraged  heart,  by 
telling  me  that  my  bumble  efforts  had  in  any  de- 
gree assisted  you  with  your  charge.  How  often 
does  God  '  lead  the  blind  by  a  way  they  know  not.' 
I  have  ever  felt  that  if  good  in  any  form  arose/rom 
these  feeble  attempts,  the  praise  must  be  entirely 
His,  whose  blessing  can  give  efficacy  to  the  weakest 
instrumentality.  The  anxiety  I  have  endured  is 
amply  repaid,  if  you  are  assisted  in  your  explana- 


78 


THE  pastor's  wife  )  OR 


tion  of  the  Sacred  Volume,  and  I  trust  I  shall  'go 
forward,'  with  more  simplicity  of  faith  and  depen- 
dence on  that  influence  which  must  follow,  as  well 
as  dictate  these  exercises.  It  may  be  that  a  soul 
may  be  saved  one  day  by  this  instrumentality!  I 
feel  increasingly  that  we  live  only  as  we  answer  the 
design  for  which  '  man  became  a  living  soul.'  '  I 
have  created  him  for  my  glory;'  and  if  the  end  we 
have  in  view,  and  the  objects  we  pursue  are  beneath 
this,  we  do  not  answer  the  end  of  our  being — we 
had  better  never  have  been  born.  The  soul  was 
formed  with  the  capability  to  enjoy  God,  and  to 
glorify  Him,  and  though  it  has  sunk  deep  and  low 
in  degradation  from  its  noble  original,  yet  so  much 
remains,  that  the  soul  refuses  satisfaction  with  any 
thing  but  Himself — at  first  it  seeks  it  every  where 
rather  than  there — but  when  draAvn  there  by  the 
attractions  of  the  Cross,  oh !  how  full  its  satisfac- 
tion, how  firm  its  ground  of  hope  and  rejoicing! 
And  when  the  love  of  Christ  has  drawn  us  to  Him- 
self, what  is  so  sweet,  and  so  binding  on  us,  as  to 
draw  other  minds  to  the  right  source  of  enjoyment, 
peace  with  God,  and  reconciliation  to  Him  '  through 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb.'  While  I  miss  you  much, 
I  cannot  but  rejoice  in  the  double  privileges  you 
enjoy,  of  continually  advancing  in  mental  cultiva- 
tion and  spiritual  knowledge  under  the  instrumen- 
tality of  your  invaluable  friend — and  of  imparting 
as  continually  to  others,  that  you  may  win  and  di- 
rect them  to  Jesus.  How  prone  the  mind  is  to 
depend  on  its  privileges,  and  how  God  sometimes 
deprives  us  of  them  for  a  season  ;  to  bring  us  back 
to  dependence  upon  Him.  We  do  not  need  prayer 
less  because  of  our  augmented  privileges,  but  far 
more ;  responsibility  increases  with  every  such  ad- 
ditional favor,  and  how  can  we  meet  that  in  our 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


79 


own  strength?  No,  our  necessities  must  always  be 
supplied  from  his  fullness,  and  our  opportunities 
profit  us  only  as  they  draAV  us  nearer  to  Him.  So 
may  you,  dear,  find  it,  and  as  you  receive,  put  out 
to  interest;  let  every  fresh  talent  yield  another 
at  least — as  you  learn,  apply  and  practice — this 
will  be  the  best  proof  of  gratitude  to  your  Instruc- 
tor, and  to  Him  who  gave  him  to  you.  We  are 
bound  for  heaven,  and  we  must  take  with  us  every 
creature  whom  we  can  reach,  nor  must  we  rest 
while  one  to  whom  our  influence  extends  is  bound 
to  a  different  clime.  May  the  thought  of  the  value 
of  an  immortal  soul,  and  the  shortness  of  time, 
stimulate  us  to  watchfulness  and  prayer,  that  we 
may  leave  no  effort  untried  to  win  sinners  to  Christ ; 
may  we  be  so  sanctified  by  the  indwelling  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  that  no  stumbling-block  may  exist  in 
us;  but  may  our  Christian  character  be  so  eminent- 
ly like  Christ,  that  we  may  glorify  and  exalt  Him 
who  made  us,  and  remoulded  us,  after  that  likeness. 

"  I  love  appointments  at  the  Throne  of  grace  ; 
half  past  eight  is  my  time  for  evening  retirement 
when  here,  and  when  evening  engagements  do  not 
interpose,  at  Surrey  too.  Often  there,  however,  I 
am  compelled  to  defer  the  sacred  hour  of  devotion 
till  after  supper ;  but  it  is  always  painful  to  me.  I 
hope,  however,  to  meet  my  dear  friend  in  spirit  then, 
where  we  may  pour  out  our  souls  before  Him  ;  and 
where  our  poor  prayers  may  find  acceptance  through 
the  merits  of  our  Great  Intercessor,  who  '  ever 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us.'  We  are  expel- 
led from  Surrey  for  a  season,  and  have  found  a  very 
agreeable  dwelling  at  Clay  Hill ;  but  I  feel  out  of 
my  element,  and  long  to  return.  I  trust  the  retire- 
ment of  this  sweet  place  will  be  beneficial  both  to 
my  dearest  husband  and  myself.    Pray  much  for 


80 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


us,  dear,  that  the  beloved  flock  may  be  benefited  by 
our  tarrying  here.  I  have  a  little  oratory  in  the 
garden,  to  which  I  love  to  retire — there  I  find 
a  mercy-seat ;  and  it  is  sweet  to  '  come  boldly,' 
there.  I  hope  every  cloud  has  long  since  been  dis- 
persed from  your  mind,  and  that  your  faith  can 
cleave  to  Christ. 

"  Believe  me,  my  sweet  friend, 

"  Ever  yours  most  affectionately, 

"  Martha  Sherman." 

The  school-room  adjoining  Surrey  Chapel,  in 
which  the  first  Sunday-School  in  London  was  es- 
tablished by  Mr.  Hill,  had  long  been  found  inconve- 
niently small.  More  children  than  could  be  accom- 
modated were  willing  to  receive  instruction  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  the  congregation  required  more  commo- 
dious rooms  for  its  devotional  meetings,  and  for  carry- 
ing on  with  effect  its  various  institutions.  In  the  year 
1840,  the  sum  of  £3,500  was  expended  in  general 
repairs  and  improvements  of  the  Chapel,  and  in 
erecting  suitable  school  and  class-rooms.  In  the 
effort  to  raise  this  large  sum,  Mrs.  Sherman  took 
the  deepest  interest.  She  arranged  and  superin- 
tended a  sale  of  useful  and  fancy  work,  on  the 
opening  day.  Assisted  by  a  committee  of  ladies,  it 
was  conducted  with  spirit  and  piety,  and  became  a 
focus  of  love  and  liberality.  The  following  note, 
one  of  many  she  wrote  for  this  occasion,  wall  show 
how  wisely  and  graciously  she  made  temporal 
transactions  vehicles  of  religious  instruction : — 

"February,  21th,  1841. 
"My  dear  voung  Friend, 
"  Will  you  share  in  the  pleasures  and  labors  of 
our  anticipated  sale,  and  oblige  me  by  taking  a  stall 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


81 


with  a  companion  of  your  own  selection— ^ema/e, 
of  course  ?  Will  you  also  strive  to  gain  purchasers 
by  persuading  every  one  to  visit  us  and  buy  ?  Will 
you  let  me  know  your  arrangements  before  next 
Friday,  as  I  wish  to  present  a  correct  list  to  the 
Committee,  of  the  ladies  who  sell. 

"  There  is  one  thing  which  God  tells  us  to  buy, 
and  never  to  sell,  '  Buy  the  truth,  and  sell  it  not.' 
If  you  part  with  it,  nothing  can  be  its  equivalent. 
Secure  that,  whatever  you  lose,  and  may  that  truth 
be  so  '  hid'  in  your  heart  that  you  '  may  not  sin 
against'  Him  who  gave  it.  May  you  habitually 
find  the  Savior's  prayer  answered,  '  Sanctify  them 
through  thy  truth,  thy  word  is  truth.'  Then  will 
every  energy  of  your  mind  be  exerted  in  the  ser- 
vice of  your  God,  and  it  shall  be  your  joy  to  see 
many  brought  to  Him  through  your  instrumenta- 
lity. These  are  days  which  call  for  eminent  piety 
and  eminent  usefulness — indeed,  they  usually  are 
combined.  May  they  be  so  in  your  experience,  and 
your  daily  conduct  and  spirit  prove,  that  you  live 
to  Him  '  who  loved  you,  and  gave  himself  for 
you.'  " 

By  the  exertions  of  herself,  and  of  those  asso- 
ciated with  her,  above  £400  were  raised  at  this 
sale,  and  they  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  noble 
building  fully  and  almost  daily  occupied,  and  the 
entire  amount  of  cost  for  its  construction  raised  and 
paid  within  twelve  months. 


82 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


CHAPTER  V. 

FORMATION  OF  MATERNAL  ASSOCIATIONS,  AND  BIRTH 
OF   A  DAUGHTER. 

Simultaneously  with  the  formation  of  her  Sab- 
bath-Class, Mrs.  Sherman  commenced  a  Maternal 
Association,  composed  of  mothers,  whose  education, 
piety,  and  station,  gave  them  influence  in  the  church 
and  congregation.  As  these  societies  are  much 
misunderstood,  the  following  paper,  drawn  up,  it  is 
^  presumed,  by  Mrs.  Sherman,  will  show  their  object 
and  the  duties  of  the  members. 

constitution  of  the  surrey  CHAPEL  MATERNAL 
ASSOCIATION,  ADOPTED   JANUARY  2nD,  1837. 

"  Deeply  impressed  with  the  great  importance  of 
bringing  up  our  children  in  the  nurture  and  admoni- 
tion of  the  Lord,  we  agree  to  associate  for  the  pur- 
pose of  devising  and  adopting  such  measures  as 
may  be  best  calculated  to  assist  us  in  the  right  per- 
formance of  this  duty. 

"  With  a  view  to  this  object  we  engage  to  ob- 
serve the  following  rules  : — 

"1.  This  Association  shall  meet  on  the  Monday 
succeeding  the  sacrament,  at  12  o'clock. 

"2.  Every  meeting  shall  be  opened  and  closed 
with  prayer. 

"3.  The  time  allotted  for  our  meetings  shall  be 
spent  in  reading  such  works  as  relate  to  the  great 
object  for  which  we  are  associated,  in  conversation 
and  prayer  for  a  divine  blessing  on  our  efforts  for 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


83 


the  immediate  conversion  of  our  children,  and  that 
God  would  glorify  himself  by  rendering  them  emi- 
nently useful  in  his  church. 

"  4.  At  the  half-yearly  meetings  on  the  second 
Monday  in  January  and  July,  the  members  shall  be 
allowed  to  bring  to  the  place  of  meeting  such  of 
their  children  as  they  shall  deem  proper.  At  these 
meetings  the  exercises  shall  be  of  such  a  nature  as 
may  be  best  calculated,  by  the  aid  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  to  instruct  the  minds  and  impress  the  feel- 
ings of  the  children  that  attend. 

"  5.  Every  member  of  this  association  shall  con- 
sider herself  as  sacredly  bound  to  pray  daily  for  her 
children,  and  with  them,  if  practicable,  to  accom- 
pany her  prayers  by  reading  the  Scriptures,  urging 
them  to  the  duty  of  immediate  repentance,  and 
an  unreserved  consecration  of  themselves  to  the 
Lord. 

"6.  It  shall  be  the  indispensable  duty  of  every 
member  to  qualify  herself  by  prayer,  by  reading,  and 
by  all  other  appropriate  means,  for  performing  the 
arduous  duties  of  a  Christian  mother,  and  to  sug- 
gest to  her  sister  members  such  hints  as  her  own 
experience  may  furnish  or  circumstances  render  ne- 
cessary. 

"7.  Every  member  shall  consider  herself  obli- 
gated, by  her  baptismal  covenant,  in  behalf  of  her 
children,  prayerfully  and  perseveringly  to  restrain 
them  from  every  course  that  would  naturally  lead 
to  pride,  vanity,  or  worldly-mindedness ;  and  shall 
look  upon  herself  as  renewing  this  covenant  at  every 
meeting  of  the  association. 

"  8.  When  any  member  is  removed  by  death,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  association  to  pay  as  par- 
ticular attention  to  her  children,  in  furnishing  them 
with  religious  books,  bringing  them  to  the  quar- 


84  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

terly  meetings,  &,c.,  as  circumstances  may  render 
proper. 

"9.  A  superintendent  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
association  to  take  a  general  supervision  of  its  con- 
cerns, and  to  preside  at  the  monthly  meetings ;  also 
a  secretary,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  keep  the  mi- 
nutes, and  a  register  of  the  names  of  the  mothers 
and  their  children ;  to  make  such  selections  for 
reading,  and  bring  forward  such  subjects  for  con- 
versation, as  may  be  best  calculated  to  excite  the 
members  to  a  faithful  discharge  of  their  arduous 
duties,  and  at  each  meeting  to  read  aloud  the  re- 
cord of  the  precedmg  one. 

"  10.  The  day  of  the  half-yearly  meeting  shall 
be  spent  in  prayer  by  the  mothers  on  their  own 
account,  and  in  behalf  of  the  children  of  the  asso- 
ciation. 

"  11.  Any  article  or  articles  of  this  constitution 
may  be  amended  by  a  majority  of  the  members  pre- 
sent at  any  amiual  meeting. 

12.  Any  mother  who  is  prepared  to  subscribe 
to  these  articles  may  become  a  member,  by  sending 
her  name,  and  those  of  all  her  children,  to  the  record- 
ing secretary,  and  so  continue  until  she  unites  with 
some  other  association,  or  Avithdraws  her  name 
from  the  register ;  and  a  member  may  be  allowed 
to  introduce  a  friend,  who  is  a  mother,  to  the 
meetings. 

"  It  is  recommended  to  every  memlier  to  spend 
the  amiiversary  of  the  birth  of  each  of  her  children 
in  fasting  and  jirayer  with  that  child.  May  He 
who  giveth  liberally  and  upbraideth  not,  ever  pre- 
side in  our  meetings,  and  grant  unto  each  of  us  a 
teachable,  affectionate,  and  humble  temper,  that  no 
root  of  bitterness  sprins:  up  to  prevent  our  improve- 
ment, or  interrupt  our  devotions.    '  The  promise  is 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


85 


to  us  and  our  children.'— Acts  ii.  39.  We  have 
publicly  given  up  our  children  to  God  ;  his  Holy 


to  it,  that  we  do  not  cause  this  sacred  name 
to  be  treated  with  contempt.  May  Christ  put  his 
own  Spirit  within  us,  so  that  our  children  may 
never  have  occasion  to  say,  '  What  do  ye  more  than 
others?'  It  is  recommended  also,  that  those  under 
our  care,  and  in  our  employment,  be  particularly 
remembered  at  the  Throne  of  Grace,  at  our  meet- 
ings and  in  our  closets." 

An  event  of  peculiar  interest  to  herself  and  fa- 
mily took  place  in  June,  1838 — she  became  a  mo- 
ther. Besides  those  to  whom  she  had  so  faithfully 
and  lovingly  sustained  the  maternal  relation,  she 
had  now  a  child  of  her  own,  and  with  it  all  those 
peculiar  feelings  and  cares  which  an  infant  brings; 
and  if  maternal  associations  appeared  to  have  great 
advantage  before,  they  would  not  be  lessened  when 
she  could  present  among  her  coadjutors  her  own 
offspring,  as  an  offering  to  the  Lord. 

Every  one  might  suppose  that  pious  mothers 
would  instantly  respond  to  such  a  meeting  as  that 
proposed,  and  that  in  a  large  church  the  difficulty 
would  be  to  regulate  the  numbers  willing  to  attend ; 
no  one  would  calculate  on  a  refusal  from  any  spi- 
ritual mind,  where  circumstances  permitted  the 
mother  to  enjoy  the  privilege  ;  but  alas  !  those  who 
take  the  lead  in  inducing  others  to  seek  for  spiritual 
blessings,  will  often  be  disappointed  by  the  frivolous 
excuses  which  are  made,  and  the  difficulties  which 
are  invented.  They  must  be  content  to  begin  with 
few,  and  pray  and  strive  till  others,  from  shame  or 
conviction,  unite  with  them. 

The  following  letter,  one  out  of  many  which  she 
wrote  at  the  same  time,  will  exhibit  the  intense 


pronounced  over  them ;  let  us  see 


8 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


anxiety  Mrs.  Sherman  felt,  that  all  the  mothers  in 
the  church,  especially  such  as  had  influence,  should 
in  their  meetings  strive  together  for  those  spiritual 
blessings,  and  that  domestic  bliss,  which  would 
make  their  families  the  garden  of  the  Lord. 

"  My  dear  Friend, 
"  As  I  find  our  Secretary,  Mrs.  Field,  will  not 
have  returned  by  Monday,  I  think  it  will  be  better 
to  defer  the  anticipated  prayer-meeting  until  after 
our  Maternal  Association.  My  heart  is  much  cast 
down  to  see  the  want  of  interest  generally,  in  our 
little  meeting.  If  we  desire  our  families  to  grow 
up  to  labor  for  Christ,  we  must  avail  ourselves  of 
every  means  to  secure  the  blessing  while  they  are 
young ;  and  while  I  supremely  desire  to  see  multi- 
tudes of  those  dear  laborers  teeming  forth  from  the 
numerous  families  attending  Surrey,  I  can  scarcely 
expect  the  blessing,  while  so  little  concern  is  mani- 
fested for  an  association  which  has  this  special  ob- 
ject in  view.  Will  my  dear  friend  aid  me  by  her 
special  remembrance  of  it  in  her  closet,  and  by 
striving  to  bring  mothers  to  the  meeting.  We  must 
not  remain  in  our  present  lifeless  state ;  there  must 
be  a  revival,  and  I  look  to  the  very  few  who  really 
feel  the  importance  of  these  meetings,  to  seek  it 
from  His  influence,  which  first  '  moved  on  the  face 
of  the  waters,'  and  brought  light  out  of  darkness. 
If  the  majority  of  mothers  in  the  congregation 
think  lightly  of  combined  prayer,  let  us  seek  the 
blessing  for  them,  nor  rest  till  every  family  among 
us  is  consecrated  to  the  w^ork  of  the  Lord,  and 
rising  up  to  fill  our  places  in  the  church.  I  must 
see  them  thus  consecrated,  and  therefore  would 
implore  that  this  blessing  may  be  sought  for  all,  by 
the  praying  few.    Try  to  induce  those  to  attend 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


87 


over  whom  you  have  any  influence,  and  you  may 
be  thus  bringing  blessings  on  many,  and  glorifying 
your  heavenly  Father,  while  you  rejoice  the  heart  of 
"  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"  Martha  Sherman." 
"Surrey  Parsonage,  Sept.  23d,  1838." 

The  difficulties,  however,  did  not  end  in  pro- 
curing the  attendance  of  the  mothers,  for  when  they 
came,  only  a  few  could  be  prevailed  upon  to  take 
part  in  the  devotional  exercises  or  conversation ; 
and  thus  the  chief  burden  was  often  thrown  on  the 
mind  of  the  president,  already  too  heavily  pressed 
with  anxiety  for  their  welfare.  Let  her  speak  for 
herself. 

"  My  very  dear  Friend, 
...  .  "  The  address  to  children,  which  Mr. 
Sherman  delivered  this  morning,  from  Luke  ii.  51, 
was  very  simple  and  practical.  May  a  blessing 
indeed  be  given.  Our  last  Maternal  meeting  dis- 
appointed me,  as  it  was  a  subject  requiring  conver- 
sation ;  few  works  appear  to  me  to  touch  that  very 
important  and  common  sin,  equivocation  ;  the  ladies 
who  usually  speak  (but  few,  alas  I)  were  absent 
from  London  ;  and,  with  immense  persuasion,  Mrs. 

  concluded,  by  presenting  our  case  to  God. 

When  I  commenced  in  prayer,  I  was  so  excited  by 
the  prospect  of  no  assistance,  that  it  was  a  very 
distressing  effort  to  myself,  and  must  have  been 

very  unprofitable  to  others.    However,  Mrs.  

engaged  with  so  much  propriety,  that  I  hope  I  was 
forgotten,  though  I  trust  the  few  blessings  I  sought 
were  not.  I  deeply  lament  the  prevailing  deficiency 
among  us,  and  I  really  feel  surprised  that  persons 
so  capable  as  Mrs.   ,  of  whom  there  are.  I 


88 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


doubt  not,  many,  do  not  see  it  a  duty  to  help  me, 
in  this  important  engagement.  I  feel  assured  that 
this  gift  is  not  mine  ;  but  I  think  myself  extremely 
culpable,  that  in  the  situation  I  occupy  I  do  not  try 
my  best  cheerfully,  for  example's  sake.  Ah !  when 
the  love  of  Christ,  and  the  glory  and  honor  of  God, 
shall  fill  the  soul,  it  will  not  be  thus ;  and  I  am 
looking  for  this  sweet  evidence  of  growth  in  grace 
in  myself,  that  whatever  God  brings  before  me  as  a 
duty,  I  shall  undertake  unhesitatingly,  in  depen- 
dence upon,  and  confident  expectation  of,  his  pro- 
mised assistance.  Sometimes  I  can  do  so ;  still, 
nothing  but  an  habitual  acting  of  obedience  to  the 
first  indication  of  my  Father's  will,  can  satisfy  me. 
How  delightful  it  is  to  anticipate  a  state  of  perfect 
holiness,  when,  like  the  angel  flying  with  the  ever- 
lasting gospel,  we  too  shall  haste  to  fulfill  his  sweet 
commands.  I  never  muse  on  the  happy  spirits  in 
heaven,  winging  their  way  on  various  commissions, 
without  panting  almost  for  emancipation  from  the 
fetters  of  clay,  and  their  attendant  sin,  and  thinking 
when  these  are  removed,  I  will  try  to  exceed  them 
in  swiftness  and  in  love  ;  in  the  latter,  surely  the 
redeemed  spirit  must  exceed  ;  angels  know  compa- 
ratively little  of  the  debt  of  love  to  Jesus.  He  pre- 
served them  in  holiness  ;  but  to  have  lost  holiness, 
heaven,  and  happiness,  and  to  have  them  restored! 
Oh  !  how  overpowering  to  think  of  it !  But  I  must 
not  trust  myself  on  so  dear  a  theme :  we  are  one  in 
heart  here  ;  may  we  be  one  with  Christ  and  each 
other  in  yon  bright  w^orld  ! 

"Believe  me,  my  very  dear  friend, 
"  Your  ever  affectionate  and  obliged  friend, 
"M.  Sherman." 

''July  14th,  1840." 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  89 

Dear,  indeed  to  every  member  of  that  association, 
^as  the  subject  of  this  Memoir.  Her  gentle  rule, 
and  willingness  to  take  the  lowest  place,  that  all 
might  be  benefited — her  graceful  method  of  check- 
ing any  thing  irregular — and  her  humble,  affection- 
ate demeanor,  gave  her  an  influence  which  every 
heart  felt,  while  her  preparatory  reading  contri- 
buted to  render  the  meetings  profitable  to  all.  What 
blessings  those  associations  have  conferred,  can 
never  be  known  till  the  secrets  of  life  are  published  ; 
but  it  must  be  acknowledged,  that  among  all  the 
schemes  which  the  Christian  church  has  proposed, 
in  order  to  augment  the  piety  of  its  members,  none 
are  more  efficient  than  those  which  aim  to  sanctify 
and  direct  the  influence  of  mothers,  for  on  their 
temper  and  habits  depend  principally  the  happiness 
of  domestic  life.  The  chief  place  in  the  training 
of  children  is  necessarily  given  to  the  mother :  how 
important  then  must  it  be  to  keep  alive  a  sense  of 
her  responsibility,  and  to  inform  her  mind  on  her 
her  duties,  and  the  best  method  of  performing  them, 
which  mutual  reading,  experience  and  conference 
suggest.  Ah !  '  the  day  will  declare,'  that  many 
famdies  have  been  blessed  with  more  comfort,  and 
many  children  have  had  more  prayer  offered  up  for 
their  eternal  interests,  and  more  care  in  their  training, 
in  consequence  of  these  assemblies  !  But  if  no  results 
of  the  kind  were  to  ensue,  the  peace  of  the  mother's 
own  soul,  and  the  mutual  love  and  interest  excited 
in  meeting  to  pray  for  each  other's  families,  and 
learn  the  way  to  make  them  more  happy,  would 
be  an  ample  reward  for  thus  employing  an  occa- 
sional hour. 

Mothers  who  have  to  gain  their  bread  by  labor, 
whose  education  has  been  deficient,  or  who  have  not 
been  accustomed  to  attend  worship,  are  a  class  which 
8* 


90 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OB 


should  excite  our  liveliest  sympathy.  The  chief 
difficulty  consists  in  getting  them  to  take  sufficient 
interest  in  a  meeting,  where  nothing  but  their  moral 
and  spiritual  good  is  designed,  and  to  attend  it  re- 
gularly. Yet  perseverance  will  do  wonders,  and 
kindness  is  never  ultimately  thrown  away  upon  the 
poor.  They  were  not  forgotten  by  Mrs.  Sherman. 
She  formed  another  association,  consisting  of  the 
poor  mothers  of  the  congregation,  and  all  whom 
they  were  disposed  to  bring  with  them  ;  this  might 
be  called  her  favorite  institution,  for  which  she  pre- 
pared with  great  delight.  While  they  treated  their 
president  with  great  respect  and  affection,  there  was 
less  reserve  than  etiquette  imposes  on  a  higher  class 
of  society,  more  freedom  of  conversation,  and,  con- 
sequently, more  knowledge  of  the  good  effected. 
Often  has  she  returned  to  her  husband  after  meet- 
ing these  poor  mothers,  with  a  countenance  beam- 
ing with  joy  at  the  interesting  communications  they 
made — the  simple  and  fervent  prayers  they  offered, 
and  the  evident  benefit  their  families  derived  from 
these  conversational  exercises.  These  good  effects 
were  soon  visible  among  them ;  some  of  the  roughest 
specimens  of  human  nature  became  gentle  as  lambs, 
and  the  energy  of  their  disposition  was  directed  to 
the  noblest  end  of  life ;  others,  naturally  timid, 
were  strengthened  to  serve  God  without  fear — in 
several  of  their  houses  family  prayer  was  adopted, 
and  in  not  a  few  instances  the  conversion  of  the  at- 
tending mother  followed.  Oh,  it  would  have  cheered 
any  spirit  to  see  her  who  went  forth  weeping,  reap- 
ing her  sheaves,  receiving  wages,  and  gathering 
fruit  to  life  eternal. 

In  consequence  of  the  success  attending  the  effort 
among  the  poor  at  Surrey  Chapel,  she  endeavored 
to  interest  several  ladies  *o  form  and  preside  over 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


91 


associations  in  connection  with  each  of  the  Sabbath- 
Schools  belonging  to  the  congregation,  and  obtained 
their  consent,  at  least,  to  make  the  effort.  In  order 
to  awaken  attention  to  the  subject,  she  wrote  an 
address,  and  enclosed  it  in  the  following  note  to  a 
friend,  which  explains  its  origin  and  exhibits  the 
spirit  in  which  it  was  penned  : 

"  Surrey  Parsonage,  July  21th,  1841. 
"My  very  dear  Friend, 
"  One  of  the  mothers  of  my  Maternal  replied  to 
my  remark  the  other  day — I  should  never  be  satis- 
fied till  every  mother  in  Surrey  Chapel  attended  a 
Maternal  Association — that  she  was  sure  they  would 
if  I  sent  them  an  invitation,  and  circulated  it  among 
the  poor  only  of  the  congregation.  Believing  that, 
however  unequal  I  feel  to  any  proposed  plan  for 
benefiting  others,  my  duty  is  not  to  let  it  go  un- 
heeded on  that  ground,  but  rather,  like  Hezekiah, 
to  '  spread  it  before  the  Lord,'  and  expect  strength 
if  it  be  His  will  that  it  be  attempted  ;  I  have,  with 
much  fear  and  trembling,  penned  this  little  address, 
and  solicit  your  candid  opinion  whether  you  think, 
if  given  to  those  who  do  attend  to  distribute  among 
the  non-attendants  in  their  neighborhoods,  any  one 
mother  would  be  likely  to  accept  the  invitation  ? 
It  is  such  a  miserable  thing  that  I  have  not  had 
courage  to  submit  it  to  you,  but  my  dear  husband 
wished  it  printed,  at  least,  for  my  own  Maternal 
to  distribute  ;  but  though  I  do  not  fear  the  criticism 
of  the  poor,  I  am  afraid  to  encounter  that  of  the 
ladies  who  conduct  Maternals  among  us,  and  who, 
in  receiving  it  for  their  poor  to  circulate,  would  be 
likely  to  read  it  themselves.  Therefore,  I  have  two 
requests  to  make — one,  that  you  will,  with  Chris- 
tian candor  and  friendship,  tell  me  whether  you 


92 


THE  PASTOR  S   WIFE;  OR 


think  it  would  answer  the  purpose  or  be  suitable  ; 
and  supposing  so  improbable  a  thing,  how  can  it 
best  be  distributed  ?  I  really  blush  to  lay  it  before 
you,  but  I  have  such  confidence  in  your  kindness 
that  I  feel  I  ought  to  submit  it  fearlessly,  and  expect 
an  honest  reply.  My  opinion  is,  that  it  is  wholly 
inefficient,  tame,  and  spiritless.  Shall  you  be  here 
on  Friday  morning  ?  If  so,  let  me  have  the  privi- 
lege of  speaking  to  you,  and  believe  me, 
"My  very  dear  friend, 

"  Yours  most  affectionately, 

"  M.  Sherman." 

It  need  not  be  told  that  her  friend's  judgment 
approved  both  of  the  effort  and  the  production,  and 
encouraged  her  timid  mind  to  send  it  forth  in  hope. 

TO  THE  MOTHERS  ATTENDING  AT  SURREY  CHAPEL. 

"My  DEAR  Friends, 

"  The  great  design  of  God  in  all  his  dispensa- 
tions, is  the  happiness  of  his  creatures :  and  the 
great  business  of  the  immortal  beings,  whom  he  has 
'  created  for  his  glory,'  is  to  promote  that  design  in 
the  world,  and  to  follow  the  path  which  Christ  trod 
when  he  assumed  our  nature,  that  he  might  accom- 
plish our  redemption. 

"  Our  all-wise  Creator  has  implanted  in  every 
mind  a  desire  for  its  own  happiness,  and  that  of 
those  whom  it  loves ;  and  though  the  degree  of  that 
happiness  in  a  great  measure  depends  on  the  cha- 
racter of  the  mind  in  which  it  is  seated,  much  de- 
pends also  on  the  outward  circumstances  of  life, 
and  on  those  little  things  which  we  are  apt  to  over- 
look as  having  ?io  influence  either  for  good  or  evil. 
But  experience  and  observation  teach  us  that  the 
great  events  of  life  are  made  up  of  small  and  com- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


93 


paratively  trivial  ones:  and  the  tendency  of  the 
greater  is  determined  by  the  direction  given  to  the 
smaller. 

"  The  anxious  desire  of  a  wife  and  mother,  is  to 
see  the  circle,  of  which  she  forms  the  influential 
centre,  happy,  prosperous  and  useful ;  and  when 
her  wishes  have  been  mournfully  disappointed,  and 
she  finds  herself  surrounded  with  discontent,  dis- 
cord, and  many  other  evil  dispositions,  how  often 
has  conscience  told  her,  that  her  neglect  to  check 
the  first  dissension  with  her  husband,  and  to  seek 
his.  comfort  by  the  removal  of  the  occasions  of  com- 
plaint ;  her  neglect  to  check  the  rising  corruptions 
in  the  infant  minds  of  her  children,  and  to  lead 
them  habitually,  by  example  and  effort,  to  the  only 
true  source  of  peace ;  nor  less  her  neglect  to  watch 
over  her  own  spirit  and  temper,  have  brought  these 
evils  into  the  family,  which,  but  for  neglect,  might 
have  been  a  happy  one. 

"  The  origin  of  half  these  sorrows  is  inconsidera- 
tion.  Among  the  large  class  of  those  who  literally 
eat  their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  brow,  little  time 
can  be  spared  for  reading  and  reflection.  To  meet 
this  difficulty.  Societies  have  been  formed  for  reading 
and  conversation  on  the  subject  of  maternal  respon- 
sibility, and  for  prayer  :  and  as  many  mothers  have 
never  devoted  one  quarter  of  an  hour  to  serious  and 
prayerful  enquiry,  '  How  shall  I  make  home  the 
happy  place  it  was  designed  to  be  ?  How  shall  I 
train  my  children  to  be  blessings  to  their  family 
and  the  world,  and  to  be  heirs  of  the  heavenly  in- 
heritance ?'  the  employment  of  one  leisure  hour 
once  a  fortnight  in  conversation  on  the  subject,  and 
in  endeavoring  to  discover  the  right  means  to  the 
desired  end,  has  been  found  by  many  mothers  the 
source  of  great  benefit,  both  to  themselves  and  their 


94 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


families ;  they  have  been  led  to  the  fountain  of 
strength  and  wisdom  for  direction  in  their  varied 
difficulties,  and  to  their  sympathizing  Friend,  who 
has  said,  '  Cast  thy  burden  on  the  Lord,  and  he 
shall  sustain  thee.' 

"  These  meetings  are  designed  by  no  means  to 
draw  mothers  from,  home,  but  to  make  that  home 
an  object  of  more  intelligent  interest ;  and  to  pre- 
vent the  temptation  to  waste  time  in  complaining 
of  domestic  trials,  by  employing  it  in  the  effort  to 
remove  them  by  the  aid  of  that  Divine  Spirit  whose 
influence  must  bless  as  well  as  direct  every  plan. 

"  Several  of  these  associations  have  been  formed 
in  connection  with  the  Sabbath-Schools  at  Surrey 
Chapel.  I  now  affectionately  invite  the  attendance 
of  every  mother  in  the  congregation  at  that  one 
which  is  situated  nearest  to  her  own  abode.  And 
I  would  urge  regular  and  punctual  attendance,  as 
much  of  the  interest  of  the  meetings  will  otherwise 
be  lost.  A  little  previous  thought  and  arrangement 
will  prevent  serious  inconvenience  in  leaving  home 
for  so  short  a  time  as  one  hour  and  a  half :  and  the 
advantages  to  those  who  attend  with  a  determina- 
tion, as  God  shall  help  them,  to  practice  as  well  as 
hear,  will  far  outweigh  the  trifling  personal  sacri- 
fice it  may  demand. 

"  Mothers,  the  precious  souls  of  your  beloved 
children  are  committed  to  your  care,  by  Him  who 
formed  them  for  a  happy  immortality ;  the  influence 
of  your  example  they  feel  in  every  transaction  of 
the  day ;  your  rule  of  action  will  be  theirs  ;  the  end 
you  keep  in  view  will,  more  or  less,  be  theirs.  Shall 
this  world  engage  their  minds  and  yours,  while 
heaven  is  offered,  and  the  'way  of  holiness,'  which 
leads  to  it,  is  pointed  out  to  you  in  the  'Word  of 
Truth,'  the  '  Gospel  of  your  salvation?'  Shall  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


95 


blood-bought  soul  seek  the  gratification*of  self  as 
the  great  end  of  life,  when  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  service  of  its  Redeemer,  are  designed  to  occupy 
its  powers  and  its  aff'ections  ?  Will  you  be  satisfied 
to  hear  of  the  happiness  of  the  spirits  which  sur- 
round the  throne,  but  never  aspire  to  join  the  glo- 
rious company  of  the  redeemed  with  every  member 
of  your  family  ?  I  invite  you  to  join  the  little  band 
of  mothers,  who  are  resolved  to  seek  union  with 
that  blest  circle  in  heaven  ;  and  therefore  bend  their 
steps  wherever  they  may  obtain  assistance  in  their 
way  thither. 

"  The  sacred  volume  abounds  with  encourage- 
ments and  promises  to  praying  mothers,  and  to  those 
I  urge  your  attention.  '  Come  with  us  and  we  will 
do  you  good,  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  good  con- 
cerning Israel?' 

"  That  every  parent  and  child  in  this  great  con- 
gregation may  find  these  '  precious  promises'  ful- 
filled to  them,  is  the  earnest  prayer  of 
"Your  affectionate  friend, 

"Martha  Sherman." 

"iSwrrey  Parsonage,  July  1st,  1841." 

This  address  was  accompanied  with  the  follow- 
ing rules,  less  elaborate  than  those  adopted  by  the 
Ladies'  Association,  and  better  adapted  to  the  per- 
sons to  whom  it  was  addressed. 

"  RULES  FOR  THE  MATERNAL  ASSOCIATIONS  IN  CON- 
NECTION WITH  THE  SURREY  CHAPEL  SUNDAY- 
SCHOOLS. 

"  The  object  of  these  associations  is  the  promo- 
tion of  individual  and  domestic  piety,  by  endeavor- 
ing to  awaken  in  the  consciences  of  its  members  a 
deeper  sense  of  their  responsibility  as  mothers,  and 


96 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


the  great  iinportance  both  by  precept  and  example 
of  training  up  their  children  in  the  way  they  should 
go.    To  accomplish  these  purposes,  it  is  resolved  : 

"  I.  That  these  associations  shall  meet  once  a 
month,  or  oftener,  as  circumstances  may  allow,  at 
the  hours  appointed  by  the  directress  of  the  meeting. 

"  II.  Every  meeting  shall  be  opened  and  closed 
with  prayer. 

"  III.  The  time  allotted  for  the  meetings  shall 
be  spent  in  conversation,  and  in  reading  the  Scrip- 
tures anfl  other  books  of  suitable  instruction,  on 
subjects  that  may  be  considered  best  calculated  to 
improve  the  minds  of  mothers  in  the  Scriptural 
method  of  governing  their  children,  and  the  most 
effectual  means  of  sustaining  order  and  harmony 
in  their  families. 

"  IV.  That  one  or  more  superintendents  shall 
conduct  the  meetings,  and  endeavor  to  keep  up  the 
interest  of  them  by  affectionate  and  urgent  appeals 
to  the  hearts  of  mothers  in  the  exercise  of  their 
parental  duties. 

"  Every  mother,  by  uniting  herself  with  the  Asso- 
ciation, pledges  herself — 

"1.  To  seek  the  possession  of  personal  piety  as 
her  great  aim. 

"2.  To  seek  diligently  the  conversion  of  her 
children  as  a  promised  blessing ;  to  pray  with  and 
for  them,  and  to  avail  herself  of  every  means  in 
her  power  to  assist  her  in  the  discharge  of  her  im- 
portant duties. 

"3.  To  observe  sacredly  the  Sabbath-day,  and 
endeavor  to  follow  up  the  instructions  of  the  Sab- 
bath-School. 

"  4.  To  make  the  Bible  her  personal  and  family 
guide ;  to  maintain  secret,  and,  if  possible,  family 
prayer. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


97 


"  5.  To  bear  on  her  heart  in  prayer  the  mothers 
and  children  of  the  association  of  which  she  is  a 
member. 

"  6.  To  make  no  mention  to  her  neighbors  or 
others  of  family  concerns  or  failings.  If,  however, 
she  be  in  circumstances  of  trial  or  difficulty,  re- 
quiring counsel  and  prayer,  she  may  communicate 
privately  to  the  president,  who  will  feel  it  her  pri- 
vilege to  be  at  ail  times  her  friend.  At  the  meet- 
ings of  mothers  the  remarks  of  each  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  the  president,  that  all  may  hear  and  con- 
fusion be  avoided. 

"At  the  half-yearly  meetings  in  January  and 
July,  the  members  of  the  association  are  expected 
to  bring  to  the  place  of  meeting  such  of  their  chil- 
dren as  they  shall  deem  proper.  At  these  meet- 
ings an  address  is  given  to  the  children  by  a  minis- 
ter. It  is  recommended  to  every  member  to  be  a 
lover  of  home,  to  leave  it  only  when  duty  requires, 
and  to  avoid  every  thing  which  may  interfere  with 
domestic  order  and  harmony — to  maintain  to  the 
utmost  of  her  power  punctuality  in  every  engage- 
ment, and  to  observe  strict  attention  to  cleanliness, 
both  in  her  person  and  her  house ;  thereby  render- 
ing her  home  comfortable  and  inviting  to  her  hus- 
band :  to  enforce  by  gentle  firmness  uniform  obe- 
dience from  her  children ;  to  avoid  all  harshness 
and  violence  in  the  management  of  them,  and  to 
exhibit  to  her  family  an  example  of  all  she  wishes 
them  to  be." 

When  absent  from  home,  through  ill  health  or 
the  claims  of  parental  love,  her  practice  was  fre- 
quently to  write  a  letter  addressed  to  the  poor 
mothers,  which  might  be  read  at  their  assemblies. 
Several  of  those  epistles  became  instruments  of  use- 
fulness, stirring  them  up  to  devotedness  to  Christ, 


98 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


punctuality  in  their  attendance,  and  greater  watch- 
fulness over  their  families.  Alany  speak  to  this 
day  of  the  joy  that  was  diffused,  from  the  evidence 
they  afforded  of  the  sympathy  and  piety  of  their 
president's  heart ;  and  one  of  the  mothers  attributes 
her  conversion  to  the  impression  produced  by  a 
letter  from  Mrs.  Sherman,  which  was  read  at  one 
of  their  meetings.  The  following  is  a  specimen  of 
this  kind  of  correspondence,  and  will  show  how  in- 
tensely she  thirsted  after  their  temporal  and  spiritual 
interests. 

"  St.  Boniface  Hotel,  Ventnor,  Feb.  23,  1846. 
"My  dear  Friends, 

"  I  received  your  very  kind  and  sympathizing 
letter  with  much  pleasure,  and  the  gratification  I 
experienced  in  shaking  hands  with  you,  so  imme- 
diately before  my  removal  from  my  beloved  home, 
has  left  a  most  cheering  impression  on  my  mind  ; 
one  thing  which  pleased  me  in  doing  so  was,  that 
you  might  see  for  yourselves  that  I  was  not  in  so 
sad  a  condition  as  some  anxious  minds  have  ima- 
gined. I  trust  by  thus  promptly  using  decided 
measures,  it  may  be  my  privilege  soon  to  return  to 
you,  in  health  and  comparative  strength.  The  little 
meetings  with  you,  though  marked  on  my  part 
with  great  weakness  and  insufficiency,  have  always 
proved  refreshing  to  my  own  mind,  and  I  am 
anxious  to  induce  the  healthy  ones  here  to  seek  the 
formation  of  such  an  association.  I  have  not 
strength,  personally,  to  form  one,  but  I  will  try  to 
influence  others  to  do  what  they  can :  I  know  you 
would  gladly  second  such  a  resolution.  I  think  of 
you  all  with  increased  interest,  now  that  I  have 
drank  more  deeply  of  the  cup  of  sorrow  :  this  heart 
has  experienced  pangs  to  which  it  was  an  utter 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


99 


stranger  before,  and  so  I  have  been  taught  more 
keenly  to  feel  for  those  who  are  called  to  drmk,  if 
not  the  same,  yet  as  bitter  a  cup,  and  much  more 
bitter  too  ;  but  there  are  sweet  promises  to  such, 
which  not  even  the  Christian  can  prize  till  he  is  in 
circumstances  of  trial ;  and  there  are  consolations 
and  discoveries  of  the  Divine  character  in  affliction 
which  are  found  only  then.  It  is  when  thus  exer- 
cised and  tried,  that  we  realize  that  God  is  dealing 
with  us.  When  our  path  is  not  to  be  distinguished 
from  that  of  the  mass  around  us,  we  cannot  see  that 
our  Father  is  taking  special  interest  in  us.  The  child 
that  plays  from  morning  to  night,  that  does  any  rude 
thing  it  chooses — even  if  by  no  means  a  rebellious 
or  wicked  child,  yet,  if  it  meet  with  no  effort  to  re- 
gulate the  right  employment  of  its  time — no  check 
to  rudeness — no  impediment  to  its  self-pleasing — 
the  inference  is,  that  the  parent  takes  no  interest  in 
that  child,  and  eventually  it  must  suffer  for  the 
want  of  necessary  guidance  and  restraint.  The  child 
that  is  of  an  age  to  reflect,  will  regard  parental  dis- 
cipline as  an  evidence  of  love,  when  properly  admi- 
nistered, and  not  under  the  influence  of  a  disposition 
as  evil  as  that  which  it  professes  to  correct,  and  we 
have  only  to  compare  our  heavenly  Father's  disci- 
pline and  regulation  of  his  family,  with  that  of  a 
well-ordered  household,  to  see  indeed  a  most  hum- 
bling contrast,  but,  at  the  same  time,  to  find  many  a 
mysterious  point  made  clear — and  who  would  not 
welcome  his  all-wise  discipline  ? 

"But  each  of  us  has  her  little  vexing  trials,  such 
as  we  cannot  talk  about,  and  if  we  are  not  watch- 
ful, these,  which  I  think  are  the  most  calculated, 
when  rightly  viewed,  to  prove  choice  blessings,  will 
miss  their  design,  just  because  we  think  them  too 
small  to  spread  before  God,  and  to  seek  to  derive 


100 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OH 


from  them  a  sanctifying  influence.  Our  Christian 
character  is  far  more  tried  and  strengthened  by  these 
little  things,  and  the  opportunities  of  glorifying  God 
under  them,  are  much  greater  than  in  our  larger 
trials,  which  we  must  bring  before  God.  More 
graces  are  proved,  a  greater  variety  and  number  of 
means  for  purifying  are  being  exercised,  in  those 
every  day  circumstances  which  too  often  try  the 
temper,  conceal  Christ's  image,  hide  God's  smile, 
and  embitter  every  thing  around.  The  very  things 
of  which  you  are  ready  to  say,  '  but  for  these  things 
I  should  be  a  happy  woman,'  are  expressly  design- 
ed by  your  heavenly  Father  for  your  special  happi- 
ness, by  correcting  in  you  those  numberless  evils 
which  prevent  real  and  abiding  happiness.  Let  it 
be  more  our  prayerful  aim  to  see  and  regard  God's 
all-wise  hand  in  our  daily  circumstances ;  and 
though  they  may  be  things  which  He  does  not  ap- 
prove, let  us  remember  that  all  hearts  and  events 
are  under  his  control.  He  permits  them  for  your 
sanctification,  to  draw  you  out  of  yourself,  to  more 
simple  dependence  on  his  strength,  to  gain  from 
them  the  exercise  of  those  graces  which  his  Spirit 
has  sown  in  your  hearts.  But  there  are  some  dear 
mothers  among  us,  who  dare  not  believe  they  be- 
long to  the  family  with  which  God  their  Father  is 
takmg  so  much  pains ;  their  vexations  are  seen  only 
as  such,  and  they  know  no  sympathizing  heart. 
My  dear  friends — who  made  us  to  differ?  did  our 
superiority  to  you,  or  our  natural  excellence  bring 
us  there  ?  Never — his  boundless  pity  and  grace 
gave  his  Son  for  our  salvation  and  yours — He  offer- 
ed forgiveness,  eternal  life,  and  admission  into  his 
family  to  us,  and  He  inclined  us  to  accept  these 
blessings.  We  would  tell  you  what  'a  dear  Savior 
we  have  found,'  and  we  entreat  you  to  seek  Him 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  101 

too — we  came  empty,  so  must  you — we  had  nothing 
bat  our  guilt  and  misery  to  bring  Him,  nor  have 
you — He  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was 
lost — we  were  lost  and  so  are  you.  We  are  saved 
by  grace  and  so  may  you  be.  Come  now,  before 
you  return  to  your  home,  lest  its  temptations  crush 
the  desires  that  may  be  rising  in  your  minds. 
Come,  and  entreat  God  to  extend  to  you  for  Jesus' 
sake,  the  mercy  we  have  found,  and  to  make  your 
whole  heart  open  to  receive  Him,  as  your  Savior, 
your  Friend,  and  your  King;  then  all  things  must 
work  together  for  your  good,  however  painful,  for 
he  says  they  shall.  The  bitter  cup  shall  be  sweet, 
life  with  all  its  trials,  a  blessing — and  death,  eternal 
gain.  May  we  be  one  unbroken  circle  in  heaven, 
and  together  review  the  way  He  has  led  us,  and 
rejoice  and  triumph  in  his  love. 

"  Believe  me,  ever  your  affectionate, 

"  Friend  and  sister  in  Christ, 

"Martha  Sherman." 

Several  of  these  associations  were  formed  under 
pleasing  hopes  and  promises  of  advantage  to  the 
poor ;  but  the  removal  of  their  leaders  from  the 
field  of  labor,  in  some  cases  by  death,  in  some  by 
change  of  residence,  and  in  others  by  affliction, 
caused  a  few  of  them  to  be  abandoned  ;  in  one  in- 
stance, after  every  effort  had  been  made,  the  poor 
mothers  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  attend  more 
than  two  or  three  meetings,  when  they  found  that 
no  temporal  gain  was  attached  to  the  service. 
Some  of  them,  however,  continue  to  this  day,  the 
little  centres  of  piety  and  domestic  instruction,  bless- 
ing the  attendants,  and  conveying  blessings  to  all 
whom  they  influence. 


9* 


102 


THE  pastor's  wife;  oh 


CHAPTER  VI. 

JOURNEY  TO  AUSTRIA. 

In  the  spring  of  18421  Mrs.  Sherman's  useful  en- 
gagements were  interrupted  by  an  unforeseen  and 
afHictive  dispensation.  The  incessant  labors  during 
the  previous  five  years,  which  the  congregation  at 
Surrey  Chapel,  and  the  cause  of  God  generally,  had 
required  from  her  husband,  began  to  affect  his 
health :  the  organs  of  speech  became  greatly  en- 
feebled, and  the  physicians  who  were  consulted, 
predicted  that  unless  he  submitted  immediately  to 
entire  cessation  from  all  pulpit  exercises,  for  at 
least  six  months,  and  resided  in  purer  air,  it  was 
not  improbable  he  would  have  to  abandon  the  mi- 
nistry altogether.  With  such  an  alternative,  sub- 
mission became  duty — and,  when  faith  was  active, 
pleasure.  To  ensure  freedom  from  temptation  to 
preach,  and  to  occupy  an  active  mind  with  new 
scenes,  a  tour  on  the  Continent  was  advised.  The 
plan  of  curing  diseases  by  the  application  of  water 
only,  as  practiced  by  M.  Priesnitz,  at  Griifenberg, 
was  at  this  time  the  subject  of  popular  discussion  m 
England,  and  obtained  many  votaries.  The  work 
published  by  Mr.  Claridge,  after  a  recent  residence 
at  the  establishment  of  M.  Priesnitz,  fell  into  Mrs. 
Sherman's  hands,  which  greatly  interested  herself 
and  her  husband  in  the  remedy,  and  determined  a 
residence  at  Griifenberg,  for  a  few  months,  to  try 
its  effects  on  the  pastor's  throat  and  chest.  In  or- 
der to  accelerate  the  cure,  and  minister  comfort  to 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


103 


the  invalid,  the  society  of  his  wife  and  afflicted  child 
were  deemed  indispensable.  The  congregation 
deeply  sympathized  with  this  arrangement,  and  li- 
berally engaged  to  provide  for  the  pulpit,  during 
this  long  intermission  of  pastoral  superintendence. 

The  following  detail  of  the  journey  is  supplied 
from  a  journal  Mrs.  Sherman  kept  during  the  tour, 
from  letters  to  relatives  and  friends  while  absent 
from  England,  and  from  notes  by  another  hand,  to 
which  she  occasionally  refers.  As  the  letters  were 
written  to  various  individuals,  and  often  contained 
similar  references  to  places  and  events,  only  extracts 
which  supplied  the  requisite  information  have  been 
taken,  and  thus  a  continuous  narrative  is  presented, 
and  all  expletive  matter  omitted. 

March  ISth,  1842. — "At  a  quarter  before  twelve 
we  left  our  beloved  home,  in  company  with  dear 
Mary  and  Mr.  C.  Burls,  for  the  steamer,  which  was 
to  start  for  Ostend  at  four  in  the  morning.  The 
deep  silence  on  the  water,  as  we  proceeded  in  the 
little  boat  to  the  steamer,  and  the  soft  beams  of  the 
moon,  which  had  not  long  risen,  gave  a  solemnity 
to  the  scene  not  easily  forgotten.  The  excitement 
of  the  morning,  when  we  bade  farewell  to  the  af- 
fectionate, prayerful  hearts  at  Surrey,  was  ex- 
changed for  a  solemn,  quiet  repose,  which  was 
most  refreshing ;  and  the  mind  seemed  to  rest  upon 
one  assurance  of  the  Hearer  of  prayer — 'certainly 
I  will  be  with  thee.'  The  passengers  were  in  their 
berths,  and  the  captain  and  a  few  men  sat  smoking 
around  the  cabin  fire,  quite  unconscious  of  the  feel- 
ings which  were  strongly  exerting  themselves  in 
the  minds  of  the  party  who  had  just  disturbed 
them ;  still  less  of  the  excitement  which  had  pre- 
ceded their  arrival.  Little  did  the  captain  imagine 
that  many  hundreds  of  prayers,  perhaps  thousands, 


104 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


had  been  offered,  that  the  voyage  might  be  a  pros- 
perous one  !  Those  prayers  were  heard,  and  many 
circumstances  combined  to  render  it,  in  the  hands 
of  a  covenant  God,  most  pleasant  and  delightful. 
A  snow-storm  made  us  welcome  the  cabin,  and  at 
last  our  berths,  as  the  rolling  of  the  vessel  assured 
us  we  were  not  on  terra  Jirma.  We  arrived  at 
Ostend  two  hours  sooner  than  the  usual  time,  and 
proceeded  to  an  English  hotel,  w^here  an  American 
combined  the  offices  of  master,  commissioner,  waiter 
and  cheat ;  for  we  discovered,  when  we  had  left 
Ostend,  that  he  had  taken  great  advantage  of  us  in 
various  ways.  The  Sabbath  was  spent  very  dif- 
ferently from  our  ordinary  Sabbaths ; — w^e  were 
pleased  to  find  English  preaching  in  the  Protestant 
church.  Mr.  J.  preached  an  evangelical,  though 
almost  Puseyite  sermon,  on  '  I  must  by  all  means 
go  up  unto  this  feast.'  The  captain  and  stewardess 
were  among  the  few"  hearers." 

21st. — "  We  took  the  railway  to  Brussels,  and 
had  excellent  rooms  in  the  Hotel  de  France,  but 
the  charges  were  immoderate.  An  opportunity  was 
afforded  of  converse  with  our  excellent  friend,  the 
Rev.  S.  Boucher,  who  has  succeeded,  amidst  the 
carelessness  of  Protestants,  and  the  opposition  of 
Papists,  to  establish  an  evangelical  church  in  priest- 
ridden  Brussels — he  cheered  us  with  hope  of  the 
conversion  of  many  souls.  God  give  him  ample 
success!  Brussels  has  above  100,000  inhabitants, 
principally  Roman  Catholics ;  what  a  field  for  pious 
exertion — especially  as  government  imposes  no  re- 
strictions on  the  places  or  the  mode  of  w^orship. 
The  park  has  some  excellent  avenues  of  trees,  and 
is  adorned  w^ith  statues,  but  is  too  formal,  and  wants 
the  freedom  and  elegance  of  our  English  parks. 
We  went  over  the  king's  palace,  but  with  the  ex- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


305 


ception  of  costly  furniture,  and  one  beautiful  por- 
trait by  Vandyke,  (the  Chapeau  de  Velours,)  it  has 
but  few  attractions.  The  palace  of  the  Prince  of 
Orange  is  a  very  handsome  building,  and  its  collec- 
tion of  pictures  very  choice — some  of  them  had 
been  removed  by  the  Prince,  but  enough  remained 
to  render  it  a  pleasing  and  improving  exhibition. 
It  has  inlaid  and  polished  floors,  over  which  we 
were  obliged  to  skate  in  carpet  slippers,  and  were 
rather  unceremoniously  hurried  through  the  rooms 
by  the  major  domo.  The  unfortunate  Prince  of 
Orange  only  inhabited  this  palace  about  a  year 
before  the  revolution  of  1830.  The  Hotel  de  Villa 
is  the  most  superb  of  all  the  municipal  palaces  we 
saw  in  the  Netherlands ;  its  beautiful  tower  of 
gothic  open  work  commands  a  view  of  the  field  of 
Waterloo,  about  ten  miles  distant ;  from  it  we  could 
discern  the  colossal  lion  in  the  centre.  The  cathe- 
dral church  of  St.  Gudule  is  very  handsome,  and 
remarkable  for  exquisitely  painted  glass  windows, 
supposed  by  judges  of  the  art  to  be  the  first  in  ex- 
istence. The  pulpit  is  a  masterpiece  of  carving, 
representing  the  angel  turning  our  first  parents  out 
of  Paradise,  and  is  well  worth  a  visit." 

2'3rd. — "  We  started  by  railroad  for  Liege,  and 
the  next  morning,  before  breakfast,  visited  the 
Church  of  St.  Jaques,  where  a  great  number  of  ap- 
parently devout  worshipers  were  assembled,  more, 
I  fear,  than  could  be  collected  to  an  ordinary  Pro- 
testant service  in  England  at  so  early  an  hour.  The 
church,  as  a  building,  is  filled  with  the  elegancies 
of  architecture.  About  noon  we  secured  the  coupe 
in  the  diligence,  and  passed  through  beautiful 
scenery,  along  a  lovely  valley,  and  by  the  side  of 
the  river  Vesdre.  We  entered  a  bookseller's  shop 
(M.  Kolmer's)  to  buy  a  map,  and  found  him  a  very 


106  THE  pastor's  wife  ;  oil 

interesting  man,  who  spoke  English,  and  kindly 
sent  one  of  his  shopmen  through  the  town  with  us, 
to  all  the  principal  places  worth  visiting.  Its  warm 
springs  were  a  great  attraction  to  the  Romans,  and 
no  less  so  to  the  modern  Germans.  In  its  Cathe- 
dral Charlemagne  was  interred ;  the  vault  was 
opened  by  Otho,  in  997,  and  the  body  was  found, 
not  reclining,  but  seated  on  a  throne,  with  a  crown 
on  his  fleshless  brow,  kingly  robes  covering  his 
skeleton,  a  sceptre  in  his  hand,  a  copy  of  the  gos- 
pels on  his  knees,  and  a  pilgrim's  pouch  fastened  to 
his  girdle ;  these  relics  were  removed  to  Vienna, 
except  the  throne  in  which  he  was  seated,  which 
resembles  an  arm-chair.  What  a  humiliating 
picture  of  human  dignity  !  Late  in  the  evening 
we  arrived  at  Cologne,  which  is  a  dirty  place, 
with  no  exterior  attractions  except  the  Rhine. 
Its  churches,  however,  are  fine  buildings,  and  its 
unfinished  Cathedral  splendid.  There  are  some  ri- 
diculous paintings  in  the  Museum  on  the  Last  Judg- 
ment ;  the  invention  of  the  painter  has  turned  the 
most  awful  subject  into  a  grotesque  exhibition.  The 
original  design  of  the  Cathedral,  if  completed, 
would  have  been  a  stupendous  monument  of  genius 
and  art ;  but  the  choir  only  is  finished,  and  its 
beauty  and  magnificence  must  be  seen  to  be  appre- 
ciated. Hope  says — 'internally,  from  its  size, 
height,  and  disposition  of  pillars,  arches,  chapels, 
and  beautifully  colored  windows,  it  resembles  u 
splendid  vision.'  The  treasures  of  the  tomb  of  the 
three  kings  of  Cologne,  or  magi,  who  came  from  the 
east  to  visit  the  infant  Savior,  though  greatly  dimi- 
nished from  their  original  value,  are  still  said  to  be 
worth  nearly  £250,000 ;  if  they  are  equal  to  half 
the  amount,  it  is  a  pity  such  a  mass  of  useless  pro- 
perty should  remain  to  support  a  falsehood.  The 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


107 


skulls  of  these  kings  are  shown  through  an  opening 
in  the  shrine,  and  their  names,  Gaspar,  Melchior, 
and  Balthazer,  are  studded  with  rubies  ;  crowns  of 
silver-gilt,  ornamented  with  real  jewels,  adorn  these 
death's  heads,  and  a  more  ghastly  sight  cannot  be 
conceived.  The  tower  has  not  advanced  to  a  third 
of  the  height  originally  intended — the  crane  of  the 
workmen  has  remained  at  the  top  some  hundred 
years,  and  seems  to  intimate  that  the  present  gene- 
ration intend  to  finish  it.  The  king  of  Prussia  has 
spent  many  thousands  on  its  restoration,  and  a  ge- 
neral subscription  is  being  raised  throughout  Ger- 
many for  its  completion. 

"  The  famous  painting  by  Rubens,  of  the  Cruci- 
fixion of  Peter,  with  his  head  downwards,  is  the 
altar-piece  of  the  church  which  bears  his  name. 
Piubens  considered  this  his  masterpiece,  but  Sir 
Joshua  Reynolds  allows  it  only  an  inferior  place 
among  his  works  ;  it  is  by  no  means  a  pleasing  pic- 
ture. A  wretched  copy  covers  the  origmal,  which 
is  only  shown  on  Sundays  and  festivals,  except  for 
a  fee  of  fifteen  silver  groschen  to  the  sacristan. 

"  The  church  of  St.  Ursula  has  nothing  remark- 
able in  its  architecture,  but  it  is  filled  with  the 
bones  of  St.  Ursula  and  11,000  virgins,  who,  with 
their  leader,  a  British  princess,  were  slaughtered  at 
Cologne  by  the  barbarian  Huns,  for  refusing  to  break 
their  vows  of  chastity.  All  round  the  interior  of 
the  building  these  hideous  relics,  in  glass  cases, 
meet  the  eye.  The  legend  is,  I  presume,  as  much 
to  be  credited,  as  that  the  church  possesses  a  vessel 
which  contained  the  water  that  was  turned  into 
wine,  and  a  link  of  the  chain  that  was  knocked  off 
Peter  by  the  angel !  These  pretended  relics  are 
shown  for  a  fee  by  the  Verger.  The  church  of  the 
Jesuits  has  a  splendid  altar-piece,  and  the  wliole 


108 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


interior  is  richly  gilt  and  overloaded  with  orna- 
ments. The  marble  before  the  altar  is  beautifully 
carved,  representing  the  ark,  the  mercy-seat,  the 
manna,  the  grapes  of  Eshcol,  &c.  In  no  place  is 
Eau  de  Cologne  more  necessary  than  in  the  city 
where  it  is  manufactured :  you  need  have  it 
sprinkled  on  your  clothes,  and  walk  with  a  bottle 
of  it  in  your  hand,  to  counteract  the  offensive  efflu- 
via that  every  breath  of  air  wafts  through  the 
streets. 

26th. — "  We  proceeded  to  Bonn  ;  the  river  winds 
so  much  from  Cologne,  that  the  distance  by  steamer 
between  the  towns  is  thirty  miles,  and  by  road  only 
twelve.  We  determined,  therefore,  to  follow  the 
road,  though  the  country  is  flat.  With  scarcely 
an  interval  it  is  one  continued  avenue  of  trees  from 
Cologne  to  Bonn.  We  had  anticipated  the  Sabbath 
with  pleasure,  as  we  heard  that  there  was  English 
service  at  the  Protestant  church ;  but  to  our  dis- 
may we  found  it  was  only  during  the  summer 
months.  I  preferred  a  quiet  Sabbath  in  commu- 
nion with  my  best  Friend,  to  attending  either  the 
Protestant  German  preaching,  or  visiting  the  Catho- 
lic churches,  though  being  Easter  Sunday  it  was  a 
high  day.  Dear  husband  attended  with  much  in- 
terest the  Protestant  church  ;  he  afterwards  went 
to  the  vestry  and  spoke  to  the  minister.  He  did 
not  speak  English,  but  sent  for  one  of  his  hearers, 
a  continental  missionary,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Major,  to 
interpret ;  a  happy  circumstance,  which  introduced 
to  us  a  most  excellent  man,  with  whom  we  took 
tea,  and  who  gave  us  encouraging  information  of 
the  progress  of  the  gospel  in  Germany.  I  was  ex- 
ceedingly delighted  with  the  pleasure  and  gratitude 
which  the  chambermaid  manifested  for  a  few  Ger- 
man tracts  which  I  gave  her :  she  complained  that 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.  SHERMAN. 


109 


few  persons  regarded  a  servant's  best  interests  at  an 
hotel.    God  give  the  seed  sown  his  blessing ! 

"  The  next  morning  Mr.  Major,  Lieutenant  Bun- 
sen  and  his  brother,  students  at  the  University  of 
Bonn,  to  whom  we  had  introduction,  through  the 
Prussian  ambassador  in  Brussels,  breakfasted  with 
us  at  the  hotel,  and  strongly  recommended  Mr. 
Blockman's  school,  where  they  were  educated,  at 
Dresden,  for  our  dear  boy.  They  accompanied  us 
to  the  steamer  for  Coblentz,  and  while  expecting 
its  arrival  from  Cologne,  we  remained  in  a  sort  of 
waiting-room,  where  the  oddest  group  of  persons 
was  assembled ;  all  respectable,  in  their  own  opi- 
nion, at  least. 

2Wi. — "  For  the  first  time,  I  found  myself  on 
that  noble  river  the  Rhine.  Soon  after  we  left 
Bonn,  we  came  to  the  Siebengebirge,  or  Seven 
Mountains  (as  they  are  called)  though  they  exceed 
that  number ;  but  the  chief  of  the  group  are  seven, 
each  of  which  is  crowned  by  a  castle  or  hermit's 
cell.  They  are  Stromberg,  Niederstromberg,  Oel- 
berg,  Wolkenberg,  Drachenfells,  Lowenberg,  and 
Hemmerich,  and  form  a  grand  commencement  to  the 
scenery  as  you  ascend  the  river.  In  the  castle 
which  crowned  the  Lowenberg,  Melancthon,  and 
Bucer,  spent  some  time  with  the  Catholic  Arch- 
bishop Herman  Von  Wied,  who  afterwards  em- 
braced the  Protestant  faith,  and  joined  the  ranks  of 
the  reformers.  Here  numerous  castles,  churches, 
oratories,  and  ruins,  present  themselves  in  all  imagi- 
nable forms ;  teaching  us  the  mutability  of  sublunary 
things.  The  miserable  mud  walled  houses  in  the 
villages,  had  taken  the  place  of  the  mansions  of  the 
great  and  noble.  The  castles,  some  of  which  were 
built  by  the  Germans  to  defend  them  from  the  at- 
tacks of  the  French,  had  been  blown  up  by  them, 
10 


110  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

and  now  presented  nothing  but  ruins,  which  add 

greatly  to  the  romantic  character  of  the  scenery, 
•thers  were  built  by  bands  of  robbers,  who  enforced 
a  toll  on  every  vessel  that  passed  up  or  down  the 
river.  Strong  armies  have  been  defeated  repeated- 
ly, in  their  attempts  to  eject  these  nefarious  inha- 
bitants of  the  rocks;  and  the  ruined  turrets  show 
the  eventual  success  of  these  efforts  to  free  the  mer- 
chant from  this  unjust  tax  on  his  merchandise. 

"At  Roderberg,  which  we  passed,  is  an  extinct 
volcano ;  its  crater  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  diame- 
ter, and  one  hundred  feet  deep — corn  now  waves 
on  it,  and  reminds  one  of  the  glorious  change 
which  grace  makes  in  many  souls,  which  once  gave 
forth  nothing  but  blasphemy  and  evil,  but  now  bear 
fruit  to  God.  Large  quantities  of  lava,  similar  to 
that  found  at  Vesuvius,  are  scattered  around  it. 
Adjoining  this,  is  Rolandseck,  a  castle  built  by  the 
nephew  of  Charlemagne,  in  order  to  command  a 
view  of  the  convent  in  which  his  betrothed  bride 
was  immured.  That  convent  stood  on  an  island  in 
the  middle  of  the  river,  and  still  bears  the  name  of 
Nonnenwerth  (Nun's  Island,)  but  it  is  now  con- 
verted into  an  excellent  hotel,  and,  though  dispos- 
sessed of  its  nuns,  remains  in  the  condition  in  which 
they  left  it,  their  cells  forming  the  bed-rooms  of  the 
visitors.  Unkelstein  is  a  hill  composed  of  basaltic 
columns,  similar  to  the  Giant's  Causeway  in  Ire- 
land, and  formerly  extended  far  into  the  bed  of  the 
river;  but  as  large  rafts  of  timber  in  the  commence- 
ment of  the  winter,  manned  sometimes  by  200  or 
300  men,  float  down  the  Rhine,  these  rocks  greatly 
impeded  their  progress,  and  the  French  blew  them 
up.  Happy  had  it  been  for  the  world,  if  gunpow- 
der had  never  been  used  for  a  less  injurious  purpose. 
"  After  visiting  several  villages  and  small  towns 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


Ill 


of  no  great  note,  but  each  having  its  local  attrac- 
tion and  legend ;  we  came  to  Andernach,  the  oldest 
city  on  the  Rhine.  Its  ramparts,  watch-towers, 
and  church,  demonstrate  its  antiquity;  but  it  is 
miserably  dirty  and  poor.  The  Jews  are  expelled 
from  it — not  a  ready  way  to  obtain  a  blessing  on 
any  place.  The  peasants,  by  forced  labor,  built  the 
castle  of  Frederickstein,  and  have,  in  consequence, 
named  it  the  Devil's  House.  01  that  all  the  devil's 
houses  were  in  like  ruins. 

"Neuwied  is  a  settlement  of  the  Moravians — a 
very  flourishing  little  town,  where  Jews,  Catholics 
and  Protestants  live  harmoniously,  without  inter- 
ference from  the  state.  As  far  as  my  observation 
extends,  religion  flourishes  best  where  governments 
let  it  alone.  The  church  and  schools  of  the  Mora- 
vians are  very  interesting,  especially  the  latter, 
where  many  English  children  are  sent,  and  obtain 
a  sound  classical  and  religious  education.  Near 
this  spot  is  the  buried  city  of  Victoria,  the  antiqui- 
ties of  which,  collected  in  the  palace,  we  much 
wished  to  see,  but  had  not  time." 

20th. — "  Arrived  at  Coblentz,  and  occupied 
apartments  in  the  Giant's  Hotel,  which  commands 
a  view  of  the  extensive  fortifications,  Ehrenbreit- 
stein,  the  mouth  of  the  Moselle,  the  bridge  of  boats, 
and  the  splendid  Rhine.  We  were  recommended 
to  go  to  another  hotel,  but  its  situation  and  accom- 
modations can  scarcely  be  improved.  Coblentz  is 
a  lively  city ;  its  active  commerce,  its  vicinity  to 
Ems,  and  its  situation  in  the  centre  of  the  chief 
spots  of  interest  on  the  Rhine,  will  always  command 
a  large  population  and  numerous  visitors.  Ehren- 
breitstein  is  the  Gibraltar  of  the  Rhine,  once  the 
stronghold  of  the  Electors  of  Treves ;  but  after 
twenty  years  of  labor,  and  immense  cost  to  the 


112 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


Prussians,  (not  less  than  five  millions  of  dollars,)  it 
is  now  rendered  one  of  the  most  complete  fortifica- 
tions in  Europe — capable  of  holding  a  garrison  of 
14,000  men,  with  magazines  large  enough  to  con- 
tain provisions  for  8,000  men  for  ten  years,  and 
cisterns  that  hold  a  supply  of  water  for  three  years, 
furnished  by  springs  without  the  walls.  If  the 
same  money  and  labor  had  been  spent  in  Prussia, 
in  spreading  the  gospel  of  peace,  during  the  twenty 
years  this  fortress  took  in  completion,  what  fruits 
might  now  have  been  reaped. 

"  We  left  Coblentz  in  the  steamer,  and  proceeded 
to  Mayence — the  chief  beauties  of  the  Rhine  now 
commence,  and  are  unrivalled  in  their  grandeur. 
The  scenery  loses  its  previous  cheerful  character, 
and  assumes  a  sombre  dignity,  from  the  contracted 
gorges  and  gloomy  shadows  formed  by  the  rocks 
and  mountains,  for  many  miles — while  castles  in 
ruins,  on  their  summits,  w-ith  all  their  historical 
associations,  give  a  romance  to  the  scene  not  easily 
described.  The  first  of  these  is  Stolzenfels,  beauti- 
fully situated  on  an  abutting  rock,  commanding 
views  of  the  Rhine  and  the  Latra.  A  friend  on 
board  said  that  it  had  been,  only  a  few  years  ago, 
offered  for  sale  at  seventy  dollars,  and  a  purchaser 
could  not  be  found  ;  but  the  town  of  Coblentz  pre- 
sented it  to  the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia,  who  has 
expended  considerable  sums  upon  it,  and  intends  to 
restore  it  to  its  original  condition.  It  is  a  very  pic- 
turesque object.  An  ancient  church  nearly  oppo- 
site, has  been  reduced  to  a  ruin  through  a  law-suit 
about  tithes,  which  lasted  forty  years.  At  Rhense 
a  few  walnut  trees  in  a  field,  whose  shade  covers 
three  stones,  mark  the  spot  where  an  octagon  build- 
ing stood,  called  the  Konigsstuhl,  which  had  seven 
stone  scats  round  its  sides,  and  one  in  the  centre  for 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  113 

the  Emperor.  Here  the  four  Rhenish  electors  met, 
to  elect  and  dethrone  emperors,  to  levy  war,  or 
conclude  treaties  of  peace ;  yet  that  which  was 
once  so  important  a  spot  to  the  destinies  of  many 
countries,  is  scarcely  discernible  amidst  crops  of 
potatoes.  Marksburg  is  a  castle  on  the  summit  of 
a  conical  rock,  of  very  imposing  exterior,  and  the 
only  one  on  the  Rhine  uninjured.  Its  interior  is 
equally  interesting,  for  its  awful  Folterkammer,  or 
chamber  of  torture — the  rack  on  which  its  inmates 
were  stretched,  and  the  instruments  used  for  stran- 
gling offenders.  I  felt  a  sad  shudder  as  I  viewed 
them,  and  traversed  the  narrow  passages,  and  en- 
tered the  dungeons  which  had  once  held  the  poor 
captives.  God  be  thanked  that  the  tyranny  of  that 
age  has  passed  away,  and  the  milder  spirit  of  the 
gospel  possesses  the  minds  of  those  who  exercise 
power. 

"  Boppart  is  an  ancient  town,  once  an  imperial 
city,  in  which  many  Diets  of  the  empire  were  held, 
but  its  streets  are  dirty,  dark,  and  narrow,  interest- 
ing only  to  the  architect  and  antiquarian,  and  con- 
vey no  idea  of  its  ancient  kingly  dignity.  More 
interesting  and  picturesque  are  the  castles  of  Stern- 
berg and  Liebenstein,  which  crown  the  summits  of 
a  lofty  rock,  and  seem  to  defy  each  other.  Next 
appears  the  immense  ruin  of  Rheinfels,  the  most  ex- 
tensive on  the  Rhine,  and  which  must  have  cost  a 
prodigious  sum,  even  in  those  days  of  cheap  labor. 
From  this  stronghold.  Count  Diethen  could  levy 
tribute  on  all  vessels  and  merchandise  passing  it  on 
the  river;  but  when  he  attempted  to  raise  the  toll, 
the  burghers  of  the  adjoining  towns,  with  an  army, 
besieged  the  fortress  for  fifteen  months  in  vain. 
Their  want  of  success  led  to  the  confederacy  of  the 
Rhenish  German  States,  whose  numerous  armies 
10* 


114 


THE  pastor's  wife;  OB 


succeeded  in  the  thirteenth  century  in  destroying 
that,  and  most  of  the  surrounding  robhers'  nests. 
It  was  afterwards  repaired,  but  the  French  blew  it 
up  in  1794.  Near  this  spot  is  a  whirlpool,  which 
excited  my  fears  a  little;  we  discovered  it  by  a  cir- 
cular current,  which  rapidly  flowed  near  the  centre 
of  the  river.  Here  the  scenery  became  increasingly 
grand.  Two  small  cannons  were  fired  from  the 
vessel  opposite  a  tall  cliff',  called  the  Lurleiberg, 
which  awoke  an  echo  that  repeated  the  sound  fif- 
teen times,  and  produced  a  singular  and  pleasing 
effect.  After  passing  Oberwesel,  Schonberg,  Ba- 
charach,  Rheinstein,  and  the  Mouse  Tower,  which 
Southey  has  celebrated  by  the  tradition  of  Bishop 
Hatto,  we  came  to  Bingen,  where  we  hoped  to  land 
and  survey  the  scenery,  which  is  said  not  to  be  sur- 
passed by  any  on  the  river;  but  as  we  had  one  ob- 
ject in  view — the  restoration  of  health  by  a  certain 
process,  we  passed  on  to  our  destination.  The 
scenery  on  the  Rhine  at  this  part  changes,  and  be- 
comes flatter;  yet  it  has  its  beauties,  and  we  were 
much  indebted  for  many  of  them,  to  the  mountains 
which  we  had  previously  passed.  So,  many  of  our 
present  earthly  joys  consist  in  retrospection — not  so 
our  heavenly  joys — we  are  here  anticipating  them, 
and  now  and  then  have  sweet  little  foretastes  of 
our  heavenly  inheritance,  where,  as  the  mind  ex- 
pands with  its  increasing  knowledge  of  God  in  his 
immediate  presence,  it  is  ever  looking  forward  to 
more  joys,  by  an  increasing  capacity  for  such  pure 
enjoyments.  A  little  showier,  succeeded  by  a  bright 
sunshine,  presented  to  us  the  most  splendid  double 
rainbow  I  ever  saw,  reminding  us  that  our  distance 
from  our  highly  privileged  country,  did  not  sepa- 
rate us  from  our  covenant-keeping  God.  We  trust 
He  has  made  with  us  a  better  covenant  than  that 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


115 


which  He  made  with  Noah,  ordered  in  all  things, 
and  sure  as  that;  but  whose  blessings  extend  be- 
yond the  little  speck  of  time  which  earth  affords. 

"The  vineyards  on  the  Rhine  are  not  so  pictu- 
resque as  I  had  fancied — the  vines  are  short,  and 
fastened  to  sticks,  and  look  little  better  than  our 
raspberry  bushes ;  though  this  is  not  the  season  of 
the  year  to  see  them  to  advantage,  yet  even  in  their 
foliage  and  fruit,  they  can  hardly  be  graceful.  The 
terraces  on  which  they  grow  are  in  many  places 
formed  of  earth  carried  to  the  ridges  of  the  rock, 
and  secured  in  baskets,  to  prevent  the  soil  being 
washed  down  the  declivity  by  the  rain.  A  succes- 
sion of  these  terraces,  in  some  situations  ascending 
one  above  another  to  the  height  of  1000  feet,  has  a 
singular  and  not  unpleasing  appearance.  The  cost 
of  cultivation,  and  the  expense  of  the  finest  vines, 
astonished  me,  and,  in  ray  apprehension,  justified 
our  teetotalism. 

"Although  Mayence  is  a  large  and  ancient  city 
of  about  32,000  inhabitants,  and  contains  many  ob- 
jects of  interest,  especially  its  cathedral  and  public 
gardens,  we  determined  to  defer  our  inspection  of 
it,  and  crossed  by  the  bridge  of  boats,  to  go  by 
railway  for  Frankfort,  where  we  arrived  about 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  next  day  we 
examined  this  handsome  and  lively  city,  which 
pleased  me  more  than  any  I  had  seen  in  Germany. 
Its  buildings  are  lofty,  and  in  the  principal  street 
and  quays  opposite  the  Maine,  where  its  rich  mer- 
chants and  statesmen  reside,  are  fit  for  princes. 
Baron  Rofhchild's  villa  is  near  the  Bockenheim 
gate,  and  is  most  sumptuously  fitted  up.  We 
joined  a  party  to  see  the  famous  Golden  Bull,  by 
which  the  Emperor  Charles  IV.,  in  1856,  regulated 
the  number  of  electors,  and  their  mode  of  voting  in 


116 


TUE  pastor's  wife;  ou 


the  election  of  the  German  emperors.  It  Is  shown 
in  the  Election  Chamber,  at  the  Town-house  called 
the  Romer,  but  is  hardly  worth  the  extravagant  fee 
of  a  ducat  for  the  sight,  except  to  an  antiquarian. 
The  exquisite  statue  of  Ariadne,  the  boast  of  Frank- 
fort, is  an  incomparable  work  of  art ;  it  is  placed  in 
a  room  in  the  garden  of  a  private  gentleman,  and 
is  readily  shown  to  strangers.  Selina  and  I  went 
in  with  a  party  of  ladies  to  see  it.  We  spent  the 
evening  with  dear  Dr.  Pinkerton  and  his  family : 
we  also  met  there  the  Rev.  M.  Bonet,  the  French 
pasteur — O  how  refreshing  to  find  pious  minds  in  a 
foreign  clime,  where  we  can  converse  on  a  land 
from  which  we  shall  never  journey  !  The  cathedral 
is  not  a  very  remarkable  building,  except  for  its 
antiquity,  and  for  being  the  spot,  at  which  before 
the  altar,  the  German  Emperors  were  crowned : — 
the  wooden  crown  was  suspended  above  his  majes- 
ty, and  let  down  by  a  pulley  on  his  head — an  awk- 
ward thing  if  the  rope  had  broken. 

"  After  spending  a  most  happy  morning  at  Dr. 
Pinkerton's,  in  conversation  chiefly  with  M.  Bonet, 
we  prepared  for  our  departure  to  Leipsic.  As  it 
was  the  annual  fair  there,  we  were  advised  to  take 
places  in  the  public  conveyance,  (the  Schnell-post,) 
and  to  travel  over  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and 
fifteen  miles  without  resting,  as  it  would  be  difficult 
to  get  conveyances  at  this  busy  season.  The  clerk 
at  the  Post  was  most  polite ;  assured  us  that  he 
would  secure  places  for  us  in  the  carriage  which 
went  through  without  changing,  and  that  we  should 
arrive  at  Leipsic  early  on  Saturday  evening.  We 
comforted  ourselves  with  hope  of  rest  and  shelter 
from  the  weather  ;  but  alas  !  we  were  disappointed 
in  both.  I  had  fallen  asleep  soon  after  I  took  my 
place,  and  the  first  object  that  attracted  me  when  I 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


117 


awoke,  was  a  man  in  our  carriage  preparing  to 
light  his  pipe.  Dear  husband  immediately  inquired 
whether  such  an  act  was  permitted  in  the  carriage ; 
this  inquiry  I  backed  by  the  most  imploring  look — 
he  took  the  hint,  and,  happily  for  us,  avoided  our 
forbiddirig  company  the  rest  of  the  journey.  A  very 
worthy  German,  speaking  English,  was  our  fellow- 
traveller  ;  he  taught  me  a  few  sentences  in  German. 
After  the  second  stage,  we  were  ordered  out  to 
change  our  carriage  in  the  midst  of  rain  and  sleet. 
We  were  put  into  '  a  bye-carriage,'  with  a  leather 
curtain  to  screen  us,  but  which  proved  insufficient 
to  keep  out  the  weather.  The  vehicle  was  changed, 
though  not  improved,  at  every  stage  throughout 
the  journey,  when  we  had  also  generally  a  different 
companion.  A  young  student  amused  and  delighted 
us  with  his  attentions,  purchasing  violets,  fruit,  &c., 
and  beguiling  the  time  by  the  most  ludicrous  efforts 
to  speak  English.  When  I  found  that  from  the 
number  of  travellers,  bad  roads,  and  slow  travelling, 
there  was  no  hope  of  reaching  Leipsic  before  the 
Sabbath  afternoon,  I  could  only  pray  that  if  there 
was  one  Christian  in  the  large  company  of  fellow- 
travellers,  it  might  be  our  privilege  to  meet  such 
an  one  in  our  next  exchange  of  carriages.  My 
heart  glowed,  when  we  started  afresh  after  break- 
fast, to  hear  in  broken  English,  from  a  most  inte- 
resting looking  Frenchman  in  our  carriage,  that  the 
sudden  illness  of  his  father-in-law,  with  whom  he 
started  from  Frankfort  in  his  own  carriage,  but  who 
was  compelled  to  return,  had  rendered  it  necessary 
for  him  to  travel  on  the  Sabbath  day.  •  This  was 
sufficient  to  prove  to  us  that  here  was  a  mind  which 
could  at  least  in  some  degree  sympathize  with  us. 
A  few  sentences  showed,  that  the  feeble  prayer  was 
not  disregarded  by  Him  who  knows  the  heart,  and 


118 


THE  PASTOK  S  WIFK  ;  OR 


the  pain  we  felt  in  spending  in  wearisome  travelling 
the  sacred  day  on  wliich  so  many  fellow-Christians 
were  commemorating  the  dying  love  of  their  now 
glorified  Redeemer.  Happy  they  who  can  by  faith 
feed  on  Him ;  who  do  not  superstitiously  mistake 
the  emblem  for  the  substance,  and  who  exemplify 
by  holiness  and  growth  in  grace,  the  likeness  of 
their  Lord  ;  and  thus  prove  that  they  have,  indeed, 
eaten  his  flesh  and  drank  his  blood.  The  conver- 
sation of  this  dear  fellow-pilgrim  to  the  celestial 
paradise,  was  refreshing  to  our  spirits  as  an  ordi- 
nance of  God ;  and  I  am  sure,  He  who  went  with 
the  disciples  to  Emraaus  on  the  Sabbath-day,  was 
present  with  us.  The  love  of  Christ  flowed  from 
his  lips  like  a  sweet  stream,  proving  to  us  that  he 
lived  very  near  the  fountain.  Our  mutual  hopes 
and  joys  were  exchanged  to  our  individual  comfort ; 
and  the  sorrows  of  our  journey  were  agreeably  and 
unexpectedly  turned  into  the  choicest  pleasures. 
How  inexpressibly  delightful  is  Christian  converse 
with  congenial  minds !  We  separated  with  deep 
feeling,  but  with  the  full  assurance  of  meeting  be- 
fore our  Father's  throne,  and  spending  in  heaven 
an  eternal  Sabbath,  in  the  perpetual  contemplation 
of  those  subjects  which  had  mutually  interested  us 
on  earth.  We  arrived  at  Leipsic  in  the  afternoon, 
and  after  a  little  repose,  spent  the  evening  in  quiet 
devotion,  dear  husband  expounding  Psal.  xxxii. 

"  Mr.  Sherman  had  promised  a  friend  to  call  on 
Mr.  B.,  but  forgot  to  do  so,  and  his  omission  did  not 
occur  to  him  till  we  were  in  the  train  from  Leipsic  to 
Dresden.  '  When  near  the  latter  place  a  lady  and 
gentleman  entered  the  carriage ;  one  sentence  only 
had  escaped  the  gentleman's  lips,  but  being  spoken 
in  English  justified  my  husband  in  inquiring,  when 
we  arrived  at  the  terminus,  which  was  the  way  to 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


119 


our  hotel.  Some  time  afterward  he  mentioned  his 
impression  that  this  person  was  Mr.  B.  Singularly- 
enough,  he  also  wished  to  know  who  the  English 
gentleman  was  who  had  spoken  so  kindly  to  him, 
and  expressed  his  idea  that  it  was  Miss  P.'s  friend, 
Mr.  Sherman,  who,  he  had  been  told,  was  likely  to 
pass  through  Dresden  ;  on  the  strength  of  this  sup- 
position, he  called  at  the  hotel,  and  found  that  both 
impressions  were  correct.  This  interview  gave  my 
husband  an  opportunity  to  converse  with  him  seri- 
ously on  his  eternal  interests.  Who  can  tell  why 
this  mutual  conviction  was  permitted?  Eternity 
will  probably  reveal  that  chance  had  nothing  to  do 
with  it,  but  an  overruling  Providence.  At  Dresden 
we  were  most  comfortably  accommodated,  in  the 
hotel  De  Rom,  and  found  one  waiter  speaking 
French,  all  besides  were  German. 

"  Our  first  business  was  to  place  our  dear  boy  at 
school.  We  heard  Mr.  Blockman's  praise  sounded, 
and  from  the  universal  estimation  of  the  school,  we 
felt  no  hesitation  in  placing  him  there,  especially  as 
Dr.  Trotman  commended  it  to  us  for  its  religious 
training.  During  our  brief  stay  here,  we  were  in- 
troduced to  a  charming  little  circle  of  Christians, 
among  whom  were  Lady  Bethune,  Baron  Wirsing, 
Dr.  Trotman,  Miss  Eule,  and  a  few  others.  Lady 
B.  seemed  delighted  to  hold  Christian  communion 
with  us,  and  related  her  brother's  conversion  with 
deep  feeling.  She  took  us  to  two  parties,  who  meet 
as  a  little  band  at  each  other's  houses  once  a  week, 
to  talk  of  their  common  hope,  and  to  stir  up  the 
spark,  which  they  think  would  soon  perish  without 
this  solitary  means  of  communion.  These  dear 
Christians  gave  us  letters  of  introduction  to  others 
like  themselves,  who,  in  the  absence  of  outward 
means,  are  drawn  nearer  to  the  great  Source  of 


120 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


spiritual  life  and  light.  We  spent  one  evening  at 
the  Eaion's  with  much  pleasure.  Baptismal  rege- 
neration was  there  contended  for ;  the  opinion 
seems  very  general  among  the  pious  Germans,  and 
these  seem  to  be  few  indeed.  The  Lutheran 
preachers  are  little  if  any  better  than  the  Catho- 
lics ;  they  are  cold  and  formal  in  their  profes- 
sion, and  very  unlike  the  great  Reformer,  whose 
followers  they  profess  to  be. 

"  Dresden  abounds  in  sights  of  extreme  interest. 
The  bridge  is  a  fine  structure  over  the  Elbe — very 
strong,  to  resist  the  ice,  which  floats  down  in  vast 
masses  in  the  spring ;  it  was  built  with  money 
raised  by  the  sale  of  dispensations  from  the  Pope, 
for  eating  butter  and  eggs  during  Lent.  The  green 
vaults  contain  immense  treasures ;  we  went  from 
apartment  to  apartment,  perfectly  bewildered  with 
the  enormous  value  and  number  of  exquisitely  beau- 
tiful objects — such  as  statues  in  bronze,  carvings  in 
ivory,  florentine  mosaics,  engraved  shells,  cabinets 
of  amber,  chimney-pieces  of  Dresden  china,  gold 
plate,  vessels  formed  of  precious  stones,  carvings 
in  wood,  Nuremberg  watches  in  the  shape  of  eggs, 
of  the  date  of  1500,  regalia  of  the  king  of  Poland, 
suits  of  the  most  costly  jew'els,  and  diamonds  of  the 
rarest  value.  Two  cases  of  diamonds,  &c.,  are  of 
sutficient  value  to  pay  off  the  whole  national  debt 
of  Saxony.  The  most  remarkable  precious  stone 
is  a  green  brilliant,  weighing  160  carats,  and  sup- 
posed to  be  above  all  price.  In  the  Armory  the 
military  costumes  of  all  the  Saxon  kings  are  exhi- 
bited—the saddles  and  stirrups  of  the  horses  are 
literally  studded  with  jewels  ;  and  the  Saxon  jewels 
are  very  beautiful,  to  an  ordinary  eye  very  little 
inferior  to  the  oriental.  We  did  not  visit  the  ma- 
nufactory of  Dresden  cliina,  which  is  some  miles  off". 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


121 


but  we  went  to  the  Japanese  Palace,  and  saw  spe- 
cimens of  china  from  its  first  manufacture  to  the 
present  day,  collected  by  Charles  the  Strong,  early 
in  the  last  century — a  most  interesting  exhibition. 
Nuremberg  and  Dresden  appear  to  have  produced  or 
employed  the  greatest  number  of  talented  men  of 
any  country  in  Europe ;  but  they  remind  one  of 
Cain's  posterity,  who  expended  their  powers  on  arts 
and  sciences,  but  left  their  precious  souls  neglected, 
and  the  great  object  of  life — the  glory  of  God,  dis- 
regarded. 

"  The  picture  gallery  is  esteemed  the  first  collec- 
tion out  of  Italy ;  very  rich  in  the  works  of  Ra- 
phael, Titian,  and  Correggio.  Without  professing 
to  be  a  connoisseur  in  painting,  every  one  of  ordi- 
nary taste  and  knowledge  must  be  struck  and  de- 
lighted with  these  masterpieces  of  art.  Raphael's 
Madonna  di  San  Sisto,  while  it  is  the  gem  of  the 
gallery,  is,  in  conception  and  execution,  worthy  of 
the  first  place  among  paintings — the  figure  of  the 
Virgin  soaring  to  heaven  with  the  Holy  Child — 
two  angelic  children,  whose  faces  beam  with  celes- 
tial intelligence,  gazing  at  them — the  youth  and 
beauty  of  St.  Barbara,  affording  a  striking  contrast 
to  the  emaciated  form  of  Pope  Sixtus — present  such 
an  assemblage  of  elegant  figures,  graceful  postures, 
and  heavenly  countenances,  that,  though  I  revolted 
at  the  deception,  I  felt  the  magical  influence  of  ge- 
nius and  art.  Correggio's  painting,  surnamed  '  The 
Night,'  exhibiting  the  Infant  Savior  in  the  Manger, 
with  rays  of  light  beaming  from  the  lovely  babe, 
and  irradiating  the  Virgin,  who  looks  on  undaz- 
zled  ;  while  the  mastery  of  light  and  shade  is  seen 
in  the  horizon,  by  the  breaking  of  the  morning 
through  the  gloom  of  night — is  an  exquisite  per- 
formance. But  it  is  impossible  to  particularize— 
11 


122 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


most  of  the  paintings  are  first-rate  productions,  and 
well  repay  repeated  visits. 

"  On  P^riday  evening,  we  saw  our  dear  boy  in  his 
school,  very  contented  and  cheerful.  Dear  fellow! 
may  God's  choicest  blessings  accompany  his  resi- 
dence !  I  felt  it  hard  to  part  with  him — he  has  been 
a  most  pleasurable  companion,  and  his  attentions  to 
me  draw  forth  a  mother's  love  to  him. 

"We  left  Dresden  for  Herrnhut  on  Saturday  even- 
ing ;  we  had  intended  to  do  so  in  the  morning,  but 
no  places  could  be  obtained  in  the  regular  Schnell- 
post,  and  the  '  bye-chaises,'  with  post-horses,  were 
too  wretched  to  be  encountered  a  second  time.  We 
had  no  alternative  but  to  start  on  Saturday  night, 
and  arrive,  as  we  were  told,  at  Herrnhut  on  Sunday 
morning,  at  five  o'clock,  or  remain  till  Tuesday  ; 
it  therefore  appeared  to  be  our  duty  to  venture  the 
former.  For  two  days  the  snow  had  fallen  a  little, 
and  during  the  night  it  continued  incessantly ;  every 
thing  was  covered — our  passage  was  remarkably 
noiseless  and  solemn,  from  its  increasing  depth,  as 
we  proceeded.  At  five  we  arrived  at  a  little  town, 
(I  forget  the  name,)  and  were  awakened  by  the 
voice  of  the  conducteur,  announcing  that  passengers 
for  Herrnhut  must  make  their  exit  from  their  warm 
dormitory,  and  trudge  in  the  snow  to  another 
Schnell-post,  which  would  convey  them  the  re- 
mainder of  the  journey.  Into  this  cold,  dirty, 
shaking  thing  we  entered,  consoling  ourselves  that 
it  was  not  a  bye-chaise,  which  we  certainly  should 
have  had,  if  it  had  not  happened  to  be  more  conve- 
nient to  the  postmaster,  just  then,  to  send  us  en- 
closed. Every  thing  we  meet  in  Germany  conveys 
the  same  impression  of  comfortlessness ;  the  men, 
when  smoking,  spitting,  and  wrapped  in  their  huge 
cloaks,  appear  to  concentrate  most  of  the  comfort 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


123 


Germany  knows.  Their  indelicate  habits  are  so 
revolting,  that  it  requires  some  s'tretoh  of  charity  to 
believe  them  fully  civilized  ;  yet  exalted  and  refined 
minds  are  found  among  them :  few  and  rare,  they 
must  be  who  merit  the  description  of  refined,  if  we 
judge  from  their  habits.  And  so  it  is,  where  the 
gospel  in  its  purity  is  not  extensively  believed.  This 
is  a  melancholy  spot :  there  are  emblems  of  reli- 
gious ceremonials  in  the  crucifixes,  but  if  we  form 
our  opinion  by  the  company  we  meet  on  the  road, 
vital  reHgion  seems  almost  unknown.  May  the 
promised  day  be  hastened  on,  when  Germany,  with 
'  the  whole  earth'  beside,  '  shall  be  filled  with  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord!'  It  was  refreshing  to  feel 
that  the  Moravian  settlement  at  Herrnhut  was  a  hal- 
lowed spot — a  little  colony  of  Christians.  We  ar- 
rived here  at  eight  on  the  Sabbath  morning,  April 
3rd.  At  a  rough  but  clean  little  inn,  our  bed-rooms 
were  separated  from  the  sitting-room  by  a  partition 
rather  higher  than  our  heads ;  literally,  they  are  all 
one  room. 

"After  breakfast,  dear  husband  went  to  the  Mo- 
ravian church.  He  could  not  sufticiently  under- 
stand the  German  prayers  or  preaching  to  be  much 
edified ;  the  singing  was  very  sweet  and  general. 
After  the  service,  Miss  Schomberg  and  another  lady 
called  on  us,  with  the  bishop,  the  minister,  and  a 
Mr.  Tank,  who  is  going  out  again  as  missionary  to 
Sierra  Leone.  They  accompanied  Mr.  S.  to  Bethels- 
dorp,  to  see  Bishop  Andres,  to  whom  he  had  intro- 
ductions. In  the  evening.  Miss  Schomberg  attended 
us  to  the  church ;  the  women  sit  on  one  side,  and 
the  men  on  the  other.  The  single  women  (sisters) 
wear  caps,  with  pink  ribbons  under  the  chin ;  the 
young,  before  sisterhood,  wear  red ;  the  widows 
white;  and  married  women  blue.    We  heard  much 


124 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


of  Count  Zinzendorf,  the  founder  of  this  sect, 
whose  liberality  pi'ovided  a  refuge  and  home  for 
the  persecuted  Christians  from  Moravia.  In  the 
library,  we  saw  the  Count's  family  Bible,  with 
many  notes  in  his  own  writing,  and  a  prayer  of  his 
mother's  for  him  at  his  birth.  He  was  born,  I 
think,  after  his  father's  death.  We  were  then  in- 
troduced to  the  Countess  Faunlock,  an  interesting 
old  lady  residing  among  them — a  spiritual  coun- 
sellor and  friend — a  sort  of  female  bishop.  The 
piety  of  the  Sisters  and  Brethren,  it  is  said,  has  of 
late  diminished  in  fervor,  but  it  was  not  manifest  to 
us.  It  was  very  delightful  to  be  in  a  place  where 
many  really  love  Christ,  and  all  are  professedly 
Christians.  Frederick  Hartmann,  who  could  speak 
a  little  English,  and  was  anxious  to  improve  in  it, 
offered  his  services  to  accompany  us  as  a  servant; 
we  gladly  took  him  with  us,  to  be  our  interpreter 
and  friend,  as  well  as  attendant.  He  was  a  tailor, 
and  from  the  circumstance  of  being  one  of  the 
Brethren,  his  trade  was  secure  to  him,  on  his  re- 
turn, at  any  time.  From  his  piety,  we  expected  to 
find  him  a  great  comfort  to  us. 

"  In  the  afternoon,  in  heavy  snow,  we  went  with 
Miss  Schomberg  to  the  cemetery,  through  a  long 
avenue  of  trees,  designed  only  for  walking  funerals 
— every  tomb  was  covered  with  a  small  flat  stone; 
the  only  exception  was  that  of  Count  Zinzendorf 
and  his  fiimily,  each  of  which  had  a  square  monu- 
ment. Miss  "Schomberg  and  Mr.  Tank  spent  the 
evening  with  us  after  their  return  from  worship, 
and  Miss  S.  expressed  her  regret,  that  she  was  not 
going  to  be  our  companion,  instead  of  Hartmann. 

"Early  in  the  morning  of  the  5th,  we  started  in 
a  travelling  carriage,  which  we  hired  from  hence  to 
Breslau,  and  arrived  at  another  Moravian  settle- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


123 


ment,  Gnadenburg,  at  eight  at  night.  On  men- 
tioning that  we  required  four  beds  for  our  party, 
we  were  much  amused  by  being  introduced  into  a 
sitting-room,  opening  into  a  very  small  chamber, 
with  four  beds  close  to  each  other,  having  just 
space  to  walk  to  our  respective  sides.  The  waiter 
seemed  surprised  that  we  objected  to  two  men  and 
two  women  sleeping  in  one  little  hole  of  a  room. 
Hartmann's  slowness  to  comprehend,  first  manifested 
itself  here.  Happily  we  succeeded  in  making  the 
waiter  understand  our  wishes,  and  another  room  ob- 
tained. It  was  still  snowing  when  we  left  for  Parch- 
witz,  the  next  sleeping  station,  which  we  reached 
about  eight  o'clock.  Towards  afternoon  it  cleared 
up,  and  we  had  a  lovely  drive,  notwithstanding  the 
badness  of  the  roads. 

"  On  the  7th,  we  went  towards  Breslau ;  the  road 
being  very  heavy,  we  travelled  a  stage  before 
breakfast.  Dined  at  Gorlitz,  a  town  beautifully 
situated  on  the  river  Neisse.  We  walked  a  long 
distance  to  see,  as  we  supposed,  a  very  interesting 
sight,  but  found  it  much  the  reverse.  In  the 
Kreutz-kirche,  is  a  representation  of  the  Holy  Se- 
pulchre, built  in  1480,  by  a  burgomaster  of  Gorlitz, 
who  travelled  to  Jerusalem,  with  an  architect  and 
painter,  to  copy  the  original.  From  this  spot  we 
saw  Sandiskrone,  a  mountain  surmounted  with  ba- 
salt, about  three  miles  off — this  was  worth  seeing — 
but  the  object  of  our  pursuit  was  ridiculous,  and 
mournfully  superstitious.  A  very  small  room  was 
intended  to  exhibit  Pilate's  Hall ;  a  wretched  di- 
minutive figure  was  represented  within  a  grating — 
our  Savior  in  prison.  Another  building,  as  small, 
represented  the  tomb,  and  a  mark  on  the  wall  in- 
dicated the  stature  of  the  angels  who  sat  at  the 
head  and  feet  of  the  Crucified  ;  a  large  stone,  and 


126 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


two  huge  bolts,  marked  the  external  part.  The 
church  of  St.  Peter's  in  the  distance,  from  the  little 
mound  on  which  this  superstitious  representation 
was  placed,  was  described  as  the  Judgment  Hall, 
in  its  relative  position  to  Calvary.  Three  trees 
represented  the  crosses  of  Christ  and  of  the  two 
thieves.  Oh  I  how  do  these  miserable  people  dwell 
on  the  circumstantials  of  the  death  of  our  Lord,  and 
overlook  its  design,  '  to  redeem  us  from  all  ini- 
quity ;'  may  such  scenes  endear  the  boundless  grace 
which  has  taught  me  to  appreciate,  in  any  humble 
degree,  the  application  of  the  merits  of  His  death  to 
my  soul.  How  painful  to  be  ignorant  of  the  lan- 
guage, and  unable  to  do  more  than  leave  on  the 
table — not  give — a  few  tracts.  One  privilege  I 
caii  retain,  I  can  plead  with  God  on  their  behalf, 
and  gain  the  ear  of  the  great  Intercessor. 

"  From  Gorlitz  we  proceeded  to  Breslau,  the 
capital  of  Silesia.  It  has  about  100,000  inhabi- 
tants, and  is  a  busy,  thriving  city,  enjoying  great 
prosperity,  and  carrying  on  a  large  trade,  especially 
in  wool.  The  churches  are  exceedingly  interesting 
from  sculptures  in  alto  relievo,  which  ornament  their 
exterior  walls,  and  are  fine  specimens  of  art.  Some 
of  them  are  grotesque  and  ludicrous.  One  at  the 
Rathhaus,  represents  Satan  wheeling  his  grand- 
mother in  a  barrow.  The  fortifications  are  all  con- 
verted into  boulevards  and  pleasure-grounds,  and 
the  bastions  into  terraces  for  the  inhabitants.  Happy 
conversion !  We  reached  Neisse  on  the  evening  of 
the  next  day — an  ancient  city,  picturesquely  built, 
and  which  thrives  by  its  contiguity  to  the  Austrian 
frontiers,  its  liberty  being  in  more  striking  contrast 
to  their  bondage.  After  surveying  the  town  the 
next  morning,  we  hired  a  carriage  to  Freiwaldau. 
The  road,  as  far  as  Ziegenhals,  the  limit  of  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  127 


Prussian  territory,  is  very  good,  but  as  the  Aus- 
trians  do  not  wish  to  encourage  travellers  into  their 
country,  from  thence  to  the  little  town  of  Freiwal- 
dau  it  is  inconceivably  bad  ;  it  seems  literally  made 
to  forbid  the  approach  of  any  carriage — deep  holes 
let  you  down,  and  huge  stones,  over  which  the  car- 
riage is  obliged  to  go,  jolt  and  shake  you  so  terribly, 
that  both  the  springs  of  your  vehicle,  and  the  bones 
of  your  body,  seem  in  danger  of  fracture  every  mo- 
ment. Dear  husband  preferred  walking,  as  I  should 
have  done,  had  not  the  mud  and  slush  been  worse 
than  the  shaking.  During  the  night  much  snow 
had  fallen,  and,  oh !  for  power  to  describe  the 
scenery!  The  hills  are  covered  with  firs,  cypress 
and  larch — every  tree  had  an  apparent  thick  foHage 
of  snow,  and  the  fringes  of  icicles,  some  a  yard  long, 
hanging  from  the  thatched  roofs  of  the  cottages,  had 
the  most  beautiful  appearance ;  the  clear  stream 
alone  seemed  capable  of  motion — all  else  around 
was  silent.  A  little  beyond  Ziegenhals,  our  lug- 
gage was  to  be  examined,  and  we  found  the  ad- 
vantage of  having  a  good  man  as  a  servant.  After 
presenting  our  passport,  in  which  he  was  described 
as  belonging  to  Herrnhut,  and  stating  that  we  had 
no  forbidden  article  among  our  luggage,  the  officers 
said,  '  As  a  Herrnhutter  says  so,  we  believe  it ;  I 
shall  not  trouble  you  with  examination — we  never 
heard  any  thing  of  that  people  but  to  their  praise.' 

"  On  Saturday  afternoon,  April  15th,  we  arrived 
at  the  hotel,  in  the  pretty  little  town  of  Freiwal- 
dau — my  feelings  were  greatly  overcome.  When  I 
entered  my  room,  sorrow  and  joy  alternately  pre- 
dominated— separated  from  home  by  1000  miles, 
and  among  foreigners,  who  were  Catholics — with- 
out any  means  of  grace  or  Christian  companions — 
my  husband's  health  shattered — a  probability  that 


128 


THE  PASTORS  WIKE;  OR 


he  might  never  carry  on  the  glorious  work  which 
God  had  enabled  him  so  auspiciously  to  commence 
at  -Surrey  ;  and  the  infirm  health  of  my  dear  child, 
was  a  view  which  depressed  me  for  a  few  moments  ; 
but  the  recollection  that  Luz  could  be  made  Bethel, 
that  here  so  many  had  obtained  health,  and  that  we 
were  sustained  by  the  prayers  and  sympathies  of  a 
large  number  of  God's  people,  dispelled  the  cloud, 
and  led  me  to  trust  and  not  be  afraid.  After  a 
night's  rest,  and  a  refreshing  exposition  by  my  pre- 
cious husband — more  precious  for  his  affliction — 
Priesnitz,  who  had  heard  of  our  arrival,  called,  and 
with  him  kind  Mr.  BischofF,  of  Leeds,  who  acted 
as  interpreter.  He  gave  us  great  encouragement  to 
hope  that  a  short  time  would  suffice  to  restore  my 
dear  husband,  was  very  agreeable,  and  advised  us 
to  rough  it,  and  take  lodgings  in  the  colony,  at 
Grilfenberg,  rather  than  remain  at  Freiwaldau. 

"  Monday  morning  husband  went  in  quest  of 
apartments,  and  found  three  rooms  in  Schubert's  cot- 
tage, which  a  family  of  distinction  had  just  vacated  ; 
they  were  the  best  to  be  had  in  Griifenberg,  and 
therefore  he  took  them.  It  had  been  snowmg  all 
the  previous  day  and  night,  but  as  the  sun  began  to 
shine,  we  went  up  in  a  little  carriage  with  our  lug- 
gage to  our  domicile.  My  heart  sunk  when  I  first 
saw  our  permanent  abode  ;  it  consisted  of  a  large 
sitting-room  and  two  smaller  chambers,  all  on  the 
ground-flour.  The  furniture  of  our  drawing-room 
comprised  four  deal  chairs,  one  German  box  for  a 
bed,  a  small  deal  chest  of  drawers,  a  little  table, 
three  paintings  on  glass,  of  St.  Victoria,  the  angel 
Gabriel,  and  St.  John,  and  a  small  broken  looking- 
glass.  In  the  chambers  were  boxes  for  beds,  filled 
with  straw,  and  a  small  table,  with  basins  about  the 
size  of  pie-dishes  and  of  the  same  shape,  and  a 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


129 


couple  of  deal  chairs.  Hartmann  was  to  occupy 
the  small  bed-room,  myself  and  Selina  the  larger, 
and  husband  had  his  bed  in  the  sitting-room.  It 
was  dreary  enough  to  see  the  snow  a  foot  deep,  all 
around  us ;  no  English  fire,  but  an  ugly  black  Ger- 
man stove  and  an  utter  want  of  every  thing  like 
comfort  and  convenience ;  yet,  before  the  day  was 
over,  we  became  reconciled  ;  and  in  a  very  little 
time,  by  the  aid  of  beds  and  bedding,  a  piano,  sofa, 
a  small  carpet,  and  a  table-cloth,  which  we  hired, 
and  the  wild  flowers  which  abounded,  we  gave  the 
room  an  air  of  pleasantness  it  had  never  before 
known,  and  were  as  happy  as  if  we  had  been  in  a 
palace.  The  rusticity  of  the  abode  strips  off  many 
imaginary  wants  and  teaches  the  patients  content- 
ment. If  there  were  any  pretensions  to  gentility 
in  the  accommodations,  they  might  remind  of  their 
defects,  but  they  are  literally  rustic  cottages,  inha- 
bited by  the  poor,  who  receive  beneath  their  roof 
those  who  come  there  for  shelter  and  healing.  Here 
we  erected  our  altar,  and  our  first  offering  was  ac- 
cepted by  the  Angel  who  did  wondrously." 


130 


THE  PASTORS  WIFE)  OR 


CHAPTER  VII. 

RESIDENCE  AT  GRAFENBERG. 

The  numerous  works  which  have  been  published 
on  the  Water  Cure,  and  the  increasing  number  of 
establishments  for  its  practice,  which  are  rising  up 
in  many  parts  of  England,  have  made  it  so  familiar 
to  most  intelligent  persons,  that  little  additional  in- 
formation on  the  subject  is  required;  and  it  will  be 
sufficient  if  Mrs.  Sherman  exhibit  to  the  reader  its 
application  to  herself  and  family,  and  her  opinion 
of  its  merits.  Yet  in  all  the  volumes  written  on  the 
healing  process  adopted  by  M.  Priesnitz,  and  on 
Griifenberg,  as  a  watering  place,  no  work  has  fallen 
into  the  writer's  hands  which  takes  a  Christian 
glance  at  that  moral  wilderness — it  is,  therefore, 
with  some  satisfaction  that  he  now  presents  graphic 
sketches,  from  her  own  pen,  of  the  place,  the  inha- 
bitants, and  the  patients,  showing  how  Griifenberg 
appeared  to  the  eye  of  a  Christian  lady. 

The  jealousy  of  the  Austrian  government  on  be- 
half of  Popery,  will  not  allow  any  efforts  which  it 
can  possibly  prevent,  to  be  made  either  by  its  own 
people  or  by  foreigners,  to  enlighten  the  population 
in  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  Any  attempt  at 
saving  a  soul  must  be  conducted  secretly,  and  with 
the  greatest  prudence;  as  the  Christian  that  en- 
gages in  it,  if  known,  is  liable  to  fine,  imprison- 
ment, or  banishment.  Such  is  Popery  still — in  the 
19th  century,  it  cannot  bear  the  light,  and  its  only 
weapon  of  defence  is  the  strong  arm  of  imrighteous 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


131 


law.  Notwithstanding  these  ungodly  enactments, 
and  the  repeated  cautions  given  her  not  to  run  the 
risk  of  provoking  the  hostility  of  those  in  power, 
Mrs.  Sherman's  journal  and  correspondence  will 
show  that  she  contrived,  in  conjunction  with  her 
husband,  by  a  prudent  use  of  means,  to  render  the 
residence  of  her  family  in  Griifenberg,  beneficial  to 
the  spiritual  interests  of  some  of  its  inhabitants. 
The  handful  of  corn  which  she  cast  with  trembling 
hope  on  the  top  of  that  mountain,  may  one  day 
shake  like  Lebanon,  and  from  the  battlements  of 
the  heavenly  city,  she  may  see  the  harvest  reaped, 
and  brought  in  to  the  celestial  garner,  to  the  honor 
of  her  Redeemer. 

In  consequence  of  the  various  temptations  by 
which  they  are  assailed  in  every  station  of  life,  the 
followers  of  Christ  even  in  England,  when  assisted 
by  numerous  public  ordinances  and  Christian  fel- 
lowship, find  it  very  difficult  to  maintain  the  vigor 
of  piety.  The  difficulty,  however,  is  increased  a 
thousand  fold  when  those  divinely  appointed  helps 
are  removed,  and  in  their  stead  superstitious  cere- 
monies offend  the  eye,  and  the  blasphemies  of  infi- 
delity or  the  maxims  of  indifference  assail  the  ear. 
Then,  to  keep  the  garments  from  being  defiled ;  to 
stand  aloof  from  the  amusements  which  are  most 
pleasant  to  the  carnal  taste  ;  to  protest  by  example 
and  by  Scripture  against  that  which  displeases 
Christ,  injures  the  soul,  and  leaves  an  unsatisfactory 
impression  of  the  nature  of  true  religion  on  the 
minds  of  the  undecided,  is  conduct  which  a  Chris- 
tian warrior  can  alone  maintain — but  is  that  which 
the  Savior  demands  of  all  his  disciples.  It  is  la- 
mentable to  hear  how  many  professors,  when  libe- 
rated from  the  inspection  of  their  fellow-members, 
or  fellow-hearers,  by  the  Straits  of  Dover,  take 


132 


THE  PASTORS  WIFE;  OR 


liberty  to  neglect  worship,  where  they  might  attend 
and  hear  "  in  their  own  tongue  the  wonderful 
works  of  God,"  to  mingle  on  the  Sabbath-day  with 
a  godless  multitude  to  witness  profane  exhibitions 
or  to  join  in  frivolous  amusements ;  and  on  other 
days  to  be  seen  in  places  from  which  not  only  their 
religious  profession,  but  moral  shame,  would  ex- 
clude them  in  England.  They  have  their  reward 
in  the  gratification  of  a  carnal  taste ;  but  their 
journey,  which,  perhaps,  has  recruited  health,  has, 
by  their  inconsistency,  sunk  their  piety  to  a  lower 
ebb,  and  furnished  cause  for  repentance  in  future 
days,  both  to  themselves  and  their  families. 

How  pleasant  the  survey  of  a  residence  in  a  fo- 
reign clime,  when  sustained  by  living  piety  and 
yielding  fruits  of  holiness  like  that  of  the  departed. 
Without  the  abridgement  of  any  unforbidden  grati- 
fication, and  with  the  enjoyment  of  a  peaceful  con- 
science, she  maintained  a  cheerful,  fervent  piety,  in 
the  most  barren  place,  by  enlarged  communion  with 
God,  and  by  a  diligent  study  of  that  precious  book 
which  affords  the  richest  nourishment  to  the  soul 
hungering  after  righteousness ;  as  some  of  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  will  show : 

"  Griifenberg  is  about  a  mile  from  Freiwaldau, 
all  the  way  up-hill  and  in  the  midst  of  mountains — 
the  rough  road  to  our  dwelling  was  just  passable, 
from  the  deep  snow  which  was  then  fast  melting, 
but  it  remains  on  the  mountain  tops  till  July. 
Picture  to  yourself  one  of  our  four  or  five-roomed 
cottages  for  the  poor — this  is  the  external  appear- 
ance— the  entrance  is  like  the  dirtiest  of  our  cot- 
tages, but  it  is  thoroughly  clean  within.  The  wo- 
men of  the  house  wear  no  shoes  or  stockings,  have 
a  colored  handkerchief  neatly  tied  over  the  head, 
appear,  except  on  Sundays  and  holidays,  with  bare 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  133 


arms,  and  only  a  cliemise  sleeve  visible.  This 
'  furnished'  house,  beside  our  rooms,  has  three  gar- 
rets in  the  roof,  one  occupied  by  a  Prussian  count, 
another  by  an  Italian  merchant,  and  the  third  by  a 
Polish  general.  Opposite  to  our  bed-room  door, 
about  three  feet  from  it,  is  the  entrance  into  the 
cows'  apartment,  whose  office  it  is  to  help  to  supply 
Priesnitz's  establishment  with  milk — that  is,  380 
persons — their  beverage  being  either  milk  or  water, 
and  nothing  else.  In  far  inferior  apartments  to 
those  we  occupy,  dukes  and  duchesses,  and  the 
great  of  all  countries,  are  found,  generally  with  the 
cow-shed  immediately  under  their  rooms.  I  can 
scarcely  fancy  myself  in  the  same  world  as  when  I 
resided  in  England,  but  it  is  certainly  a  vexy  happy, 
or  rather,  I  should  say,  a  very  merry  one. 

"Priesnitz  is  a  man  of  middling  height  and  size, 
with  a  small  piercing  eye — remarkably  quiet  in  his 
raamier — talks  very  little,  and  gives  you  the  im- 
pression of  paying  great  attention  to  his  patient's 
case.  He  is  like  clock-work  in  all  his  arrange- 
ments,— he  begins  his  calls  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  when  he  stays  to  see  his  new  patients 
placed  in  their  various  baths,  watches  the  effects 
produced  on  them,  and  gives  directions  for  the  fu- 
ture; afterwards,  they  only  see  him  occasionally, 
or  when  they  send  for  him.  He  rides  a  black  cob, 
which  undergoes,  as  well  as  his  master,  great  fa- 
tigue, and  regularly  takes  a  bath,  standing  every 
day  for  an  hour  in  water,  which  half  covers  his 
body — we  saw  him  in  the  bath  to-day — he  looks 
fat  and  full  of  spirit. 

"Every  house  is  furnished  with  baths.  The 
women  alternately  attend  to  them,  guide  the  plough, 
sow  the  fields,  saw  timber,  carry  stones  and  ma- 
nure, mow  the  ^rass,  irrigate  the  land,  reap  the 


134 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


corn,  and,  in  fact,  do  all  the  hard  work,  while 
their  husbands  or  fathers  smoke  their  pipes,  make 
bargains,  and  occasionally  help  in  field  labor,  when 
the  weather  or  necessity  oblige.  The  very  cow- 
house owes  its  cleanliness  entirely  to  the  women's 
care  and  labor.  They  are  never  idle  a  moment, 
and  do  not  forget  to  bring  the  bandages,  wet  sheets, 
and  whatever  their  ladies  require,  at  the  proper 
hours,  namely,  half-past  four  and  eleven  in  the 
morning,  and  five  and  half-past  eight  in  the  even- 
ing. If  ours  are  specimens  of  the  whole,  they  are 
peculiarly  attentive  and  kind.  While  at  breakfast 
this  morning,  our  old  landlady  took  holy  water, 
and  sprinkled  the  seed  she  was  going  to  sow,  and 
the  cows  which  were  to  harrow  after  her,  in  order 
to  secure  a  good  crop. 

"  The  poor  whom  you  meet,  if  they  know  you, 
or  you  have  done  them  a  kindness,  immediately 
kiss  your  hand.  I  am  favored  with  such  a  saluta- 
tion from  our  washer-woman,  on  entering  and  leav- 
ing the  room  at  every  visit.  The  peasants  are  so 
excessively  jealous  of  the  popularity  of  Priesnitz, 
that  they  actually  strive,  by  all  means  in  their 
power,  to  worry  him  away  from  Griifenberg,  though 
they  are  marvellously  enriched  from  the  multitudes 
of  visitors.    What  surprising  stupidity ! 

"  Strawberries  are  gathered  in  great  abundance 
by  the  peasants'  daughters  ;  they  grow  in  such  pro- 
fusion in  the  woods,  that  most  of  the  patients  have 
large  supplies  every  day.  For  a  quantity  equiva- 
lent at  least  to  two  English  pottles,  we  give  the 
tenth  part  of  a  shilling;  and  though  small,  the 
flavor  is  most  delicious. 

"  The  people  never  allow  their  cattle  to  graze, 
as  they  have  no  notion  of  planting  hedges  between 
the  fields;  consequently  the  poor  creatures  remain 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


135 


at  home  under  the  same  roof  with  their  owners ; 
women  mow  the  grass  or  clover,  and  bring  it  home 
as  it  is  wanted  for  the  day. 

"  Here  are  assembled  representatives  from  almost 
all  parts  of  Europe ;  English,  French,  Dutch,  Rus- 
sians, Hungarians,  Poles,  Swedes,  Norwegians,  Ger- 
mans, Tyrolese,  Turks,  besides  Americans,  come  to 
be  cured.  And  on  gala  days,  when  they  dress  in 
their  native  costume,  the  groups  are  particularly 
interesting.  Among  others,  our  constant  visitors, 
are,  Count  N.,  who  distinguished  himself  lately  in 
the  taking  of  St.  Jean  d' Acre— the  nephew  of 
Prince  Blucher,  of  Waterloo  notoriety — Mr.  R., 
from  Scotland,  and  Mr.  L.,  a  clever  old  Irish  gen- 
tleman, full  of  wit  and  amusing  anecdote;  besides 
counts,  generals,  and  admirals,  in  abundance. 
There  are  very  few  Englishmen,  and  fewer  English 
ladies ;  but  about  two  hundred  persons  dine  to- 
gether in  Priesnitz's  grand  saloon,  daily,  as  merrily 
as  it  is  possible  to  conceive,  and  who,  if  some  did 
not  wear  bandages  on  their  heads,  and  a  few  walk 
lame,  would  be  considered  a  most  healthful  assem- 
bly." 

In  a  place  like  Grafenberg,  where  the  Lord's-day 
was  the  chief  day  for  amusement,  and  no  religious 
ordinances  were  observed,  except  those  of  the  Catho- 
lics, which  were  an  offence  to  reason,  as  well  as 
to  the  gospel  of  Christ,  any  thing  like  a  departure 
from  the  Protestant  indifference  which  prevailed,  by 
the  habit  of  daily  social  worship,  morning  and  even- 
ing, and  of  a  special  service  on  the  Sabbath,  could 
not  pass  without  observation  and  comment.  Sing- 
ing at  worship  English  tunes  and  hymns,  in  the 
mountains  of  Austrian  Silesia,  seemed  like  direct 
opposition  to  the  rigid  laws  of  Metternich;  yet,  as 
it  was  confined  to  the  family,  could  scarcely  be  con- 


136 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


demned  by  the  police.  It  was,  however,  necessary 
to  increase  the  number.  Several  asked  to  be  pre- 
sent at  family  worship — a  request  which  could  not 
be  refused.  The  attendants  averaged  about  seven, 
and  many  a  time  of  refreshing  came  in  those  never- 
to-be-forgotten  services.  After  a  few  weeks,  two 
gentlemen,  Mr.  Bischoff,  of  Leeds,  and  Mr.  Lister, 
from  Ireland,  in  the  name  of  the  English  residents, 
and  of  others  who  understood  English,  called,  soli- 
citing permission  to  attend  the  Sabbath  morning- 
service.  Consent  was  given,  with  the  hope  of  sow- 
ing the  good  seed  in  some  hearts.  At  eleven  o'clock 
the  service  commenced  with  a  Surrey  Chapel  hymn, 
sung  to  a  plain  tune,  with  which  many  were  familiar, 
and  which  all  could  easily  learn.  A  fine  full-toned 
piano,  touched  with  inimitable  sweetness  and  power 
by  Mrs.  Sherman,  sustained  the  song  of  praise,  and 
thrilled  many  hearts  with  devotion  and  joy.  A 
portion  of  the  Liturgy  was  at  first  used,  but  it  was 
found  too  fatiguing,  and  was  obliged  to  be  discon- 
tinued. The  Psalms  and  Lessons  were  then  read — a 
prayer  offered — another  hymn  sung,  and  then  a 
short  sermon  of  about  half  an  hour,  was  delivered 
to  as  attentive  an  audience  as  ever  assembled  in  a 
consecrated  edifice.  The  religious  sentiments  of  the 
congregation  were  almost  as  varied  as  their  coun- 
tenances. There  were,  one  Clergyman,  four  Epis- 
copalians, an  Arian,  two  Socinians,  four  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  one  of  the  French  Reformed 
church,  one  of  the  Dutch  church,  an  Independent, 
two  Plymouth  Brethren,  three  Moravians,  and  a 
Catholic  Hungarian  nobleman,  besides  the  famil} — 
making,  when  all  assembled,  about  twenty-five  per- 
sons—with occasional  additions.  To  these  the  great 
truths  of  the  complete  atonement  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
and  justification  by  his  righteousness,  through  faith 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


137 


alone,  with  their  practical  effects,  were  constantly 
announced,  and  the  sequel  proved  not  without  some 
jjracious  fruit — an  object  which  the  precious  de- 
parted never  failed  most  earnestly  to  seek,  by  fol- 
lowing up  the  sermon  by  conversation  with  those 
who  sought  explanation,  or  offered  objection  to 
sentiments  uttered — and  above  all,  by  earnest  sup- 
plication for  Divine  influence.  She  thus  writes  to 
a  friend: — 

"  This  is  a  mournful  place  to  live  in — so  utterly 
excluded  from  every  religious  privilege,  that  a  Lu- 
theran clergyman  was  imprisoned  last  summer,  for 
reading  a  sermon  every  Sunday,  to  about  twenty 
of  his  countrymen.  We  have  been  very  marked 
in  our  entire  separation  from  the  amusements  of 
the  place,  which  are  chiefly  on  the  Sabbath-day ; 
but  the  English  are  so  venerated  here,  that  we  have 
suffered  nothing  from  it.  It  has  drawn  around  us 
a  little  knot  of  Germans,  who  can  speak  English, 
and  are  very  anxious  to  know  what  is  right.  They 
have  requested  to  be  present  at  our  family  and 
Sabbath  services,  and  though  piety  in  these  parties 
would  require  the  perfect  uprooting  of  all  their 
customs,  I  cannot  but  hope  that  good  may  be  done, 
'  through  your  prayers  and  the  supply  of  the  spirit 
of  Jesus  Christ.'  He  is  able  to  give  strength  for 
every  difficulty  ;  and  oh,  what  a  joyful  result  of 
our  long  journey  would  this  be,  if  one  soul  were 
brought  to  the  foot  of  the  cross — if  even  one  only 
should  be  led  to  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow  the 
Lamb." 

After  a  few  services,  the  police  sent  for  Schubert, 
the  landlord,  and  examined  him  at  great  length, 
respecting  the  nature  of  the  service  on  the  Sabbath 
— who  were  present — and  what  was  the  substance 
of  the  address.  He  was  ordered  by  the  Inspector 
12* 


138  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

not  to  permit  its  continuance,  and  to  report  to  Mr. 
Sherman,  that  it  was  contrary  to  law  to  assemble 
for  any  but  Catholic  worship.  A  conference  was 
held,  as  to  what  was  best  to  be  done,  and  it  was 
the  general  impression,  that  the  officer  did  not  wish 
to  disturb  the  assembly,  but  that  if  any  report  were 
made  of  it  to  higher  authorities,  he  might  appear 
to  have  done  his  duty  by  commanding  its  discon- 
tinuance. It  was  therefore  determined  to  risk  the 
consequences,  especially  as  he  had  not  sent  for  the 
minister,  but  conveyed  a  message  through  a  pea- 
sant, which  the  English  chose  to  think  was  not 
treating  them  with  sufficient  respect,  and  concluded 
that  if  he  were  obliged  to  take  any  further  step,  he 
would  send  more  specific  information.  The  services 
were  in  consequence  continued,  to  the  mutual  com- 
fort of  the  little  daring  band,  \\nth  occasional 
alarms  and  reports,  during  the  whole  four  months 
of  Mrs.  Sherman's  residence  at  Grafenberg,  but 
without  the  slightest  molestation. 

"  We  were  particularly  gratified,"  she  writes,  "a 
few  days  ago,  by  a  young  Catholic  nobleman,  who 
resides  in  our  cottage.  He  is  very  pleased  to  spend 
some  of  his  time  with  us  daily,  because  he  wishes 
to  improve  himself  in  English.  He  happened  to 
pass  our  house  while  we  were  singing  at  evening 
prayer :  he  stopped  till  the  close  of  the  service, 
listening  to  the  prayer,  under  the  window,  with 
such  interest  that,  he  said,  he  could  only  mentally 
pray  and  sing  for  a  considerable  length  of  time. 
The  next  day  he  informed  us  what  had  occurred, 
and  asked  permission  to  attend  our  service  when  he 
was  able.  He  did  so  the  next  evening,  and  appeared 
most  deeply  interested,  and  told  us  that  for  two 
whole  hours  after  he  could  do  nothing  but  pray. 
This  has  gratified  us  very  much,  especially  as  he  is 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.  SIIKRMAN. 


139 


a  man  of  great  fortune  and  family,  and  is  quite  inde- 
pendent of  that  interference  whicli  common  folks  ex- 
perience. If  his  influence  and  property  were  guided 
by  a  sanctified  heart,  who  can  tell  what  a  blessing 
he  may  prove  in  his  own  land,  Hungary.  These 
circumstances,  in  Grafenberg,  are  of  great  interest 
to  us,  though  in  London  so  small  a  thing  might  be 
little  noticed.  This  morning  we  had  a  Jew  and  an 
infidel  in  our  house,  who  were  arguing  against  the 
inspiration  of  the  Scriptures  and  the  Deity  of  Christ, 
with  my  dear  husband,  till  I  could  scarcely  bear  it. 
These  are  J??i^/w/t  people,  too.  Oh!  may  we  never 
be  numbered  with  such,  but  may  the  riches  of  that 
grace  which  reached  and  penetrated  our  hard  and 
unbelieving  hearts,  reach  theirs  too,  though  they 
now  scoff  at  the  truth." 

Those  who  knew  Mrs.  Sherman  will  easily  ima- 
gine with  what  joy  she  ministered  to  the  comfort 
of  an  invalid  clergyman,  to  whom  she  was  intro- 
duced under  the  circumstances  which  she  narrates 
in  the  following  extract : — 

"  Grafenberg,  May  IGth,  1847." 
"My  beloved  Mamma, 
"  I  am  writing  two  days  later  than  I  intended, 
but  I  think  you  will  not  suspect  me  of  neglect  when 
I  tell  you  the  cause,  though  it  has  originated  in  a 
temporary  transfer  of  attention  from  my  best  of 
mothers,  to  a  perfect  stranger ;  yet,  from  his  being 
of  the  privileged  family,  not  to  he  regarded  in  that 
light.  To  explain  myself — this  day  week  we  were 
told  that  a  lady  and  gentleman  from  England  had 
arrived.  As  Selina  and  I  are  the  only  English 
ladies  at  Grafenberg,  our  duty  was  immediately  to 
introduce  ourselves,  and  offer  to  assist  them  in 
finding  a  dwelling.    We  found  them  in  a  small 


140 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIKK;  OR 


apartment  in  a  wing  of  Priesnitz's  establishment, 
-with  scarcely  space  to  move  round  the  beds — fit 
only  for  a  sleeping-room  for  a  bachelor,  who  spent 
the  day  out  of  doors — and  such  a  person  would  only 
accept  it  if  he  could  not  get  a  better.  We  were 
more  delighted  than  I  can  express  to  find  actually 
that  the  new  comers  were  a  very  pious  clergyman 
and  his  wife,  from  Guernsey,  and  our  anticipation 
of  congenial  minds  more  than  realized.  The  gen- 
tleman, only  thirty  years  of  age,  came  to  try  the 
water-cure,  for  what  he  calls  asthma,  but  which 
Priesnitz  calls  consumption.  Mr.  P.  at  once  re- 
fused to  undertake  his  case,  and  recommended  him 
to  remove  immediately  to  a  milder  climate,  but  he 
clings  to  his  strong  presentiment  that  this  is  the 
cure  for  him.  His  weakness  is  incredibly  great — 
he  is  reduced  to  second  infancy,  and  seems  to  us  in 
the  last  stage  of  consumption.  We  left  them,  and 
after  a  little  walk  and  conversation  together  how 
we  could  manage,  we  returned  to  his  wretched 
abode — the  best  that  Griifenberg  then  could  afford — 
and  invited  him  and  his  wife  to  accept  our  roomy 
and  comfortable  apartment,  and  try  the  effect  of  a 
more  sheltered  spot.  The  mere  offer  cheered  him 
— he  fancied  the  change  might  relieve  his  incessant 
cough  and  soothe  his  sleepless  nights ;  they  came 
that  very  evening,  and  took  up  their  abode  as  our 
guests — while  my  dear  husband  slept  in  the  room 
which  Hartraann  occupied,  not  much  better  than 
that  from  which  we  invited  Mr.  B.  We  manage 
as  well  as  we  can,  pleased,  and  amply  compensated 
with  the  privilege  of  contributing  to  the  comfort, 
even  for  a  few  days,  of  this  dying  Christian.  We 
have  been  much  occupied  with  them,  and  it  has 
appeared  a  duty  to  do  what  we  can  for  Ihem,  in  a 
place  where  neither  servants  nor  those  things  which 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


141 


an  invalid  requires,  are  to  be  found  as  in  England. 
His  mind  is  in  the  most  placid,  happy  state — he 
seems  pleased  with  every  thing,  and  we,  of  course, 
have  been  much  gratified  to  find  that  we  have 
greatly  contributed  to  his  comfort  and  improvement 
in  health.  It  was  very  touching,  as  with  difficulty 
he  crept  to  our  dwelling,  supported  by  ray  husband 
and  his  wife,  to  hear  him  say,  as  he  sunk  on  our 
sofa — '  your  kindness  makes  me  forget  that  I  am  so 
far  from  my  native  land.  I  feel  that  I  am  with 
friends.  But  you  must  add  one  more  favor — if  I 
should  die  in  Grafenberg,  will  you  read  the  service 
over  my  grave?'  This  was,  of  course,  promised 
him.  His  skeleton  form  and  hectic  cheek,  make  us 
fear  this  really  will  be  his  burial  place,  and  that  his 
wife  will  return  a  widow.  My  dear  husband's 
prayers  are  very  delightful  to  him,  and  our  little 
service  on  the  Sabbath  morn  seemed  to  refresh  his 
spirit  beyond  expression.  Who  can  tell  but  one 
object  of  our  coming  here  was  to  smooth  the  path- 
way to  the  tomb  of  this  gentle,  precious  servant  of 
the  Lord  Jesus." 

The  change  of  air,  the  adoption  of  the  cure  in  a 
mild  form,  and  the  attentions  paid  to  this  good  mi- 
nister by  his  devoted  wife,  were  so  far  valuable, 
that  he  greatly  recovered  his  health,  and  was  able, 
for  months,  to  walk  with  the  aid  of  a  stick.  Mrs. 
S.  writes  on  the  14th  June  following — 

"  Mr.  B.  is  daily  gaining  a  degree  of  strength,  so 
much  so  that  he  rejoices  that  he  came  to  Grafen- 
berg ;  but  the  continuance  of  night  perspirations  and 
expectorations  of  blood,  though  both  these  sad 
symptoms  are  diminished  considerably,  tell  me  that 
his  days  are  numbered,  and  we  can  look  on  him 
only  as  a  vessel  sent  to  the  harbor,  to  be  repaired 
sufficiently  to  reach  its  own  haven.    They  have 


142 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


taken  apartments  in  a  little  cottage  near  us,  so  that 
we  can  still  have  their  society  and  sympathy,  on  the 
points  most  clear  to  our  hearts." 

A  friendship,  greatly  prized  on  both  sides,  was 
formed  during  his  residence  at  "the  place  of  heal- 
ing," and  every  conversation  brought  more  con- 
firmatory testimonies  to  his  child-like,  humble  piety. 
Two  years  afterwards,  she,  concerning  whom  he 
used  playfully  to  quote  that  passage,  "  a  certain 
woman,  named  Martha,  received  him  into  her 
house,"  had  the  unspeakable  pleasure,  with  her 
husband,  of  spending  a  fortnight  with  him,  and  his 
wife,  and  sweet  child,  in  Rosenheim,  his  charming 
abode  at  Guernsey.  Affection  delights  in  revenging 
kindness,  and  it  was  most  interesting  to  see  this 
dear  man  and  his  wife  taxing  their  ingenuity  to 
render  every  day  more  pleasant  by  introductions  to 
the  first  society  in  the  Island,  and  by  drives  to  every 
object  of  interest  it  presented.  During  the  visit, 
church  and  dissent  were  not  named — the  Jew  and 
the  Samaritan  knelt  at  the  same  throne,  and  heard 
each  other  expound  the  w^ord  of  life — while  thanks- 
givings for  recovery,  and  petitions  for  length  of 
days,  ascended  in  one  cloud  of  incense  from  the  lips 
of  both.  Little  was  it  then  thought  that  he  would 
be  the  survivor,  by  one  month,  of  his  kind  sympa- 
thizing friend,  who  was  in  robust  health  when  he 
first  heard  the  soothing  tones  of  her  voice ;  but  he 
lived  on  till  June,  1848,  and  died  at  Naples,  full 
of  faith  and  hope  in  his  crucified  Lord. 

If  one  feature  of  holiness  more  strongly  marked 
the  character  of  Mrs.  Sherman  than  another,  it  was 
an  intense  compassion  for  souls  living  in  ignorance 
and  sin,  forgetful  of  God,  and  heedless  of  His  sal- 
vation— this  prompted  her  to  every  legitimate  effort 
for  their  rescue.    Having  mixed  but  little  with  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


143 


worldly  and  profane  in  her  own  rank,  their  con- 
duct at  Grafenberg  struck  her  pure  spirit  with  the 
greater  horror.  The  following  extracts  will  show 
that  she  "beheld  the  transgressors  and  was  grieved ;" 
but  her  private,  ingenious,  and  loving  stratagems 
to  secure  their  attention,  and  win  their  souls,  will 
only  be  known  when  the  secrets  of  all  hearts  are 
revealed. 

"  I  can  scarcely  credit  what  I  see  and  hear.  Many 
came  here  apparently  dying,  who  are  now  running 
about  and  dancing ;  but  it  is  melancholy  to  witness 
the  dreadful  absence  of  a  single  spark  of  religion. 
Sunday  is  the  day  of  highest  amusement.  A  ball 
is  to  be  given  next  Sunday,  by  all  the  Austrian  offi- 
cers, in  honor  of  the  birth-day  of  their  Emperor, 
which  falls  on  Friday,  but  Sunday  is  selected  as 
the  best  day.  We  have  received  cards  of  invita- 
tion, to  which  we  have  replied  by  expressing  our 
grief  at  such  a  gross  and  unnecessary  profanation 
of  the  day ;  but  so  destitute  are  the  Austrian  au- 
thorities of  true  piety,  that  if  a  tract  is  given  to  a 
peasant,  or  an  address  delivered  to  a  few  persons, 
the  aggressor  is  immediately  sent  across  the  fron- 
tier. Three  gentlemen,  their  own  countrymen, 
were  lately  thrown  into  prison  for  quiet  efforts  to 
do  good.  O  !  it  is  melancholy  indeed  to  be  unable 
to  do  any  thing ;  our  only  hope  is,  by  a  decided 
example  of  piety,  gradually  to  produce  a  good  im- 
pression of  religion  on  the  minds  of  the  English 
around  us — we  need  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent,  and 
the  harmlessness  of  the  dove,  to  deal  with  such 
characters.  My  heart  aches  to  think  how  we  are 
surrounded  by  those  who  are  little  better  than 
heathens — professedly  the  people  are  Catholics,  but 
really  they  are  infidels  ;  and  between  the  ignorance 
of  their  language,  and  the  prohibition  of  speaking 


144 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


to  them,  through  Hartmann,  our  servant,  we  are 
painfully  situated.  The  only  comfort  with  which 
we  can  look  on  this  place,  is  in  connection  with  the 
promise,  that  'the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall 
cover  the  earth,'  and  then  Griifenberg  shall  see  the 
true  light. 

"I  am  amazed  that  we  have  been  able  to  endure 
such  a  scene,  so  perfectly  the  reverse  of  the  every 
day  scenes  of  our  most  happy  home.  We  think  of 
those  we  have  left  behind,  in  our  honored  and  pri- 
vileged land,  and  their  excellencies  shine  out  as 
they  never  did  before,  even  those  whom  we  did  not 
very  much  regard,  seem  most  lovable  now.  You 
little  imagine  what  a  heathen  land  this  is.  Bibles 
cannot  be  obtained  anywhere  in  Austria,  I  am  told, 
except  through  the  medium  of  the  Moravian  settle- 
ments, and  the  only  method  of  introducing  them  to 


Believing  that  no  human  laws  should  prevent  the 
circulation  of  that  precious  book,  she  induced  an 
individual  to  try  to  bring  her  from  Gnadenfrey,  one 
of  these  settlements  in  Prussian  Silesia,  a  copy  of 
Luther's  German  Bible.  This  was  accomplished, 
and  placed  in  the  sitting-room  as  part  of  her  little 
library,  in  a  spot  where  the  daughters  and  wife  of 
our  landlord,  whose  curiosity  was  not  small,  would 
be  sure  to  see  "  the  beautiful  treasure."  The  first 
morning,  the  daughters  made  enquiries  about  the 
new  arrival,  and  asked  permission  to  show  it  to 
their  parents.  Opportunity  was  immediately  taken 
by  Mrs.  Sherman,  to  explain  its  contents,  of  which 
they  were  entirely  ignorant,  and  to  turn  down  the 
corners  of  leaves  upon  passages,  which  she  thought 
calculated  to  give  them  a  clear  view  of  the  plan  of 
salvation  by  Jesus  Christ.  Then  with  a  solemn 
charge,  to  take  great  care  of  "  God's  own  book," 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  145 

she  committed  it  to  the  custody  of  the  mother,  who 
was  to  be  responsible  for  its  safe  return.  When- 
ever the  old  lady  could  get  a  leisure  hour,  the 
Bible  was  her  companion.  On  returning  home, 
one  evening,  when  the  sun  was  setting  brilliantly, 
the  writer  observed  her  on  a  seat  outside  the  house, 
poring  over  the  book,  and  observed,  "  Well,  Mrs. 
Schubert,  you  are  getting  quite  in  love  with  Mrs. 
Sherman's  good  book — take  care  the  priest  does 
not  hear  of  it,  and  forbid  you  to  read  it."  She 
wiped  a  tear  away,  which  she  did  not  wish  him  to 
see,  and  replied  with  great  indignation,  "  Never — 
the  priest  take  it  I  if  I  could  get  one  of  my  own — 
he  and  the  police  might  hunt  a  long  while  before 
they  found  it !  Why  do  they  keep  such  good  doc- 
trine from  us  ?  O  Jesus  be  merciful  to  our  ignorant 
souls !"  For  some  time,  he  continued  in  conversa- 
tion, as  far  as  broken  German  would  permit,  and 
elicited  from  the  poor  peasant's  wife,  that  at  least 
she  had  a  desire  to  learn  the  will  of  God.  It  was 
the  custom  of  her  husband,  every  Sabbath  morning, 
to  go  to  mass  at  the  church  of  Freiwaldau — after 
the  service  was  over,  he  regularly  entered  the  pub- 
lic-house and  returned  home  intoxicated — to  this 
practice,  there  was  not  an  exception  on  any  Sunday, 
during  the  first  three  months  the  family  occupied 
his  house.  His  temper,  always  bearish,  became, 
when  he  had  indulged  in  schnaps,  boisterous  and 
unruly,  and  it  was  a  comfort  to  his  family  to  see 
him  stretched  on  the  settle  fast  asleep,  "  till  the 
liquor  had  gone  out  of  him."  As  soon  as  he  re- 
covered, his  patient  wife,  who  had  become  ac- 
quainted with  many  portions  of  the  Scriptures, 
would  sit  down  by  his  side,  and  beg  permission  to 
read  to  him  "  out  of  Mrs.  Sherman's  good  book ;" 
she  generally  obtained  her  desire,  and  by  some 


146  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

"  pretty  story,"  as  she  called  the  narrative  of 
Joseph,  prevented  his  further  indulgence  in  the 
maddening  draught.  As  much  benefit  resulted  from 
the  perusal  of  the  Scriptures  as  might  reasonably 
be  expected,  on  a  person  between  sixty  and  seventy 
years  of  age,  and  who  till  that  Bible  was  lent  her, 
had  never  seen  one ;  but  the  proof  that  she  and  her 
husband  had  not  heard  the  word  of  life  in  vain,  may 
yet  be  more  distinct  and  evident. 

The  following  extract  describes  a  scene  at  Frei- 
waldau,  and  shows  how  happily  it  was  improved 
to  spiritual  advantage. 

"  The  peasants  are  constant  in  their  attendance 
at  the  church  of  Freiwaldau.  Last  Thursday  was 
one  of  the  chief  holidays  in  the  year,  in  commemo- 
ration of  the  Trinity,  some  say,  but  none  seem  to 
know  what  it  means.  At  Vienna,  the  Emperor  and 
Empress,  and  all  the  aristocracy  unite  in  the  pro- 
cession, of  which  we  saw  a  very  humble  representa- 
tion. The  host  was  carried  through  the  market- 
place in  Freiwaldau,  on  grass  which  was  cut  and 
spread  for  the  purpose,  and  flowers  scattered  over 
it.  After  the  host  has  passed,  the  people  gather 
up  the  grass,  and  when  their  cattle  are  ill,  they  boil 
a  small  portion  in  water,  and  make  them  drink  the 
liquor,  which,  they  say,  invariably  cures  them  ! 
Four  altars  were  raised,  at  each  of  which  mass  was 
performed — the  procession  then  commenced,  con- 
sisting of  little  girls  in  white,  with  garlands,  fol- 
lowed by  the  ladies  of  the  town  and  neighborhood, 
and  then,  in  due  order,  every  individual  in  the 
place — children  with  banners  and  bells,  old  women 
and  men  in  outlandish  attire,  alternately  repeating 
prayers  and  singing,  all  moving  very  slowly  round 
the  square,  back  to  the  church,  whence  guns  were 
fired.     Surely  no   Christian  could  witness  such 


MKMOIR   OF   MRS.  SHERMAN. 


147 


gross  heathenism,  without  a  throbbing  heart,  espe- 
cially when  he  knows  that  so  large  a  portion  of  the 
Continent  is  under  the  rule  of  '  the  man  of  sin.' 
The  educated  Catholics  here,  are  as  ignorant  of  the 
meaning  of  this  wretched  mummery  as  the  peasant ; 
the  enquiry  was  proposed  at  the  dinner-table,  and 
went  round,  but  none  could  tell  even  of  what  it  was 
a  memorial.  Can  we  believe  that  this  nation  is 
perishing  in  utter  ignorance,  and  not  pour  out  an 
agonizing  prayer  for  them  ?  If  I  wake  in  the  night, 
I  sometimes  feel  horror-struck  at  the  conviction, 
that  of  all  the  foreigners  around  us,  from  whom  we 
are  receiving  constant  kindness  and  attention,  there 
is  not  one  of  whom  we  can  consistently  say,  and 
confidently  believe,  '  that  is  a  child  of  God.'  There 
is  a  little  knot  of  females  here,  who  consider  them- 
selves unquestionably  very  pious,  but  they  cannot 
be  persuaded  that  God  disapproves  of  their  going  to 
balls  on  the  Sabbath,  and  making  it  the  day  of 
greatest  amusement.  They  all  habitually  take  the 
name  of  God  and  Jesus  in  vain,  in  fact,  swear, 
though  elegantly — even  the  lisping  babes  catch  this 
evil  habit.  At  first,  till  I  knew  a  little  of  the  lan- 
guage, I  used  to  contrast  the  worldly  characters, 
and  the  poor  here,  as  not  swearing,  imfavorably 
with  those  in  England,  but  I  find  my  gross  mistake ; 
those  who  converse  with  us,  know  our  aversion  to 
the  habit,  and  are  frequently  begging  our  pardon 
for  their  forgetfidness.  Swearing  and  spitting  do 
not  become  ladies,  but  they  belong  here,  equally  to 
ladies  and  gentlemen. 

You  will  believe  that  we  are  trying  our  utmost 
to  improve  our  opportunities  with  them,  but  though 
they  own  sometimes  that  we  are  right,  they  go  on 
stili.  They  tell  us  that  in  Hamburgh  few  persons 
attend  regularly  any  place  of  worship — in  winter  it 


148  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

is  too  cold,  in  summer  too  hot.  Oh,  dreadful 
state  of  things !  and  these  are  the  most  excellent 
around  us!  I  never  felt  so  certain  that  my 
heart  does  not  long  for  worldly  pleasures  which 
my  station  forbids.  In  the  sweet  quiet  spots  here, 
my  spirit  often  finds — 

'  One  there  is  above  all  others, 
Well  deserves  the  name  of  friend.' 

I  cannot  comprehend  why  I  should  be  thus  favored 
to  call  Him  mine,  when  there  are  even  in  my  own 
little  family  those  who  know  no  such  Friend.  Well 
may  I  exclaim  with  the  disciple,  '  Lord,  how  is  it 
that  thou  wilt  manifest  thyself  to  me,  and  not  to 
the  world?'  If  the  creature-recommendations 
weighed  with  the  Divine  mind,  they  would  have 
been  chosen  and  /  left ;  but  who  can  understand 
His  matters  ?  I  cannot,  but  this  shall  be  my  effort, 
that  He  who  stooped  to  regard  me  shall  have  my 
time,  my  heart,  my  all.  May  He  but  give  me 
grace  to  use  them  to  His  glory.  I  never  felt  so 
much  the  loveliness  of  the  Divine  character,  and 
I  think  I  can  now  comprehend  how  it  is  that, 
when  an  individual  is  selected  out  of  a  worldly 
family  to  be  a  recipient  of  the  grace  of  God,  he 
seems  to  love  God  so  much  more  than  others.  If 
we  are  surrounded  with  pious  persons,  we  are  apt 
to  bring  down  our  impressions  of  the  character  of 
God  to  a  nearer  level  with  those  around,  and  to 
compare  the  one  with  the  other ;  but  there  is  no 
comparison  between  God  and  the  world — they  are 
at  antipodes.  Far,  indeed,  is  He  above  the  holiest 
angel ;  but  we  imagine  more  of  His  glorious  cha- 
fer, I  think,  in  the  one  case  than  the  other.  Be 
this  as  it  may,  I  feel  that  my  Heavenly  Father  has 
not  forsaken  his  poor  sinful  child,  for  while  He 


MEMOIR  OV  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


149 


shows  me  more  of  the  corruptions  of  my  own  heart, 
He  shows  also  that  His  every  attribute  is  glorified 
in  ray  redemption  from  those  corruptions,  and  even- 
tual transformation  into  His  own  lovely  image." 

Although  many  objections  may  arise  in  well- 
informed  minds  to  the  application  of  a  single  re- 
medy for  every  varying  disease,  by  a  peasant  who 
knew  nothing  of  anatomy  or  physiology,  and  who 
would  be  liable  to  make  great  and  grievous  mis- 
takes in  cases  which  require  the  most  correct  patho- 
logical experience  and  watching ;  yet  facts  declare 
that,  notwithstanding  his  defective  education,  by 
the  constant  application  in  various  forms,  of  cold 
spring- water,  M.  Priesnitz  has  cured  hundreds, 
whom  the  best  educated  and  most  skillful  practi- 
tioners have  abandoned  as  hopeless.  The  fatigue 
occasioned  by  the  labor  of  the  cure,  and  the  time 
required  for  the  various  baths  and  bandages  will 
prevent  the  remedy  from  becoming  universally  po- 
pular; still,  great  refreshment  is  experienced  by  the 
applications.  Retirement  from  accustomed  duties, 
mountain  air,  change  of  scene  and  society,  the  oc- 
cupation of  the  thoughts  by  the  very  attentions  the 
practice  of  the  cure  occasions,  and  the  proofs  of  its 
efficiency,  in  some  hundreds  of  improving  and  happy 
patients,  all  contribute  to  sustain  the  animal  spirits 
— to  provoke  perseverance  in  the  use  of  the  means — 
to  fill  the  mind  with  enthusiasm  for  Priesnitz,  and 
with  hope  of  healing  for  the  patient.  Mrs.  Sher- 
man partook  of  this  enthusiasm  and  hope.  She  did 
not  intend  to  try  it  for  herself,  but  Priesnitz  recom- 
mended her  to  use  it  under  his  special  direction,  in 
a  mild  form,  for  a  turbulent  and  noisy  cough,  which 
she  had  endured  from  infancy — a  cough  which  in 
no  way  affected  her  general  health,  but  which 
troubled  and  disturbed  her  during  the  winter 
13* 


150 


THE   PASTOR  S   WIFE  ;  OR 


months.  While  she  watched  with  the  most  intense 
anxiety  its  effects  on  her  husband  and  daughter, 
she  used  it  with  constancy  and  energy  for  herself; 
and  it  is  remarkable  that,  during  the  succeeding 
winter,  she  was  perfectly  free  from  a  single  attack 
of  her  cough.  Her  letters  to  her  relatives  respect- 
ing the  cure,  and  what  she  witnessed  in  Griifenberg, 
are  not  the  least  interesting  of  her  correspondence. 
The  following  extracts  will  show  her  feelings  and 
convictions  respecting  it : — 

"I  must  now  tell  you  what  my  dear  husband  has 
to  encounter,  premising  that  he  already  feels  the 
benefit  of  it,  and  that  he,  as  well  as  the  whole  body 
of  patients,  highly  enjoys  the  process.  At  night 
he  is  wrapped  m  wet  bandages  round  his  body  and 
chest,  in  which  he  sleeps.  At  half  past  four  the 
landlord  (who,  for  his  tact,  is  called  Dr.  Schubert,) 
rouses  him,  makes  him  rise  and  strip — takes  a  sheet 
to  the  cold  spring,  outside  the  door,  and  binds  him 
in  it  like  a  mummy — over  that  a  thick  coarse 
blanket  is  tucked  so  tightly  that  he  cannot  move 
hand  or  foot ;  upon  these  a  German  feather  bed  is 
placed.  About  an  hour  afterwards  he  comes  in  to 
see  if  his  patient  is  hot ;  if  so,  he  is  handed  off  out 
of  the  house,  covered  with  a  blanket,  and  plunged 
into  a  tepid  bath  ;  in  a  week  hence  he  will  get  out 
of  this  into  a  cold  one.  He  then  dresses,  drinks  a 
glass  of  icy  water,  walks  out  for  an  hour,  drinking 
as  much  w^ater  as  he  can  during  the  walk,  at  the 
several  springs,  and  returns  to  the  establishment  to 
breakfast.  At  eleven  he  undresses,  has  another 
wet  sheet  thrown  over  him,  takes  a  sitz  bath,  after- 
wards wn-ites  his  letters,  reads,  and  then  ascends 
the  hill  with  us,  to  dine  at  one.  At  five  another 
sitz  bath,  supper  at  six,  and  we  all  retire  to  rest 
soon  after  nine.    Judge  of  my  quakings  when  my 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  151 

husband's  chest  was  exposed,  by  the  removal  of  an 
under  waistcoat  and  a  wash  leather  which  he  wore 
over  it  in  winter  and  spring,  and  all  these  cold  ap- 
plications used  ;  but  it  is  a  mysterious  system — the 
refreshment  all  acknowledge  is  extreme,  and  he  has 
not  taken  the  least  cold. 

"  I  use  a  sitting  bath  twice  a  day,  and  have  my 
feet  day  and  night  in  wet  cloths,  to  remove  my 
bunions  and  corns,  and  the  weakness  of  the  ancles 
which  they  occasion.  Every  morning  I  get  out  of 
bed  into  a  tepid  bath,  in  which  I  am  well  rubbed, 
arid  then  plunge  into  a  cold  bath,  and  back  again 
into  the  tepid.  This  is  all  that  I  take,  with  the 
exception  of  being  rubbed  thoroughly  three  times  a 
day,  in  a  cold  wet  sheet,  which  produces  the 
milder  effects  of  a  cold  bath.  I  am  much  stronger 
and  better  altogether,  and  share  in  the  bathing 
pleasures  of  those  around  me. 

"  We  are  all  very  well.  1  am  getting  fat,  and 
as  brown  as  a  gipsy.  We  are  scarcely  ever  in  the 
house,  except  from  about  eleven  to  nearly  one. 
The  uninterrupted  fine  weather  enables  us  to  live 
in  the  woods  and  fields,  amidst  flowers  of  every 
hue.  We  joined  a  gipsy  party  yesterday,  to  break- 
fast on  the  top  of  one  of  the  mountains,  and  were 
walking  for  two  hours  and  a  half  up  a  very  steep 
hill,  resting  only  occasionally  for  a  few  minutes. 
The  splendid  view  on  the  summit  amply  repaid  our 
toil.  We  returned  home  and  bathed,  and  forgot 
our  fatigue,  though  our  journey  had  been  to  a  spot 
nearly  2000  feet  above  our  cottage." 

The  following  description  of  the  means  used  most 
effectually  to  subdue  a  violent  fever,  with  which  her 
husband  was  attacked,  will  be  read  with  interest, 
as  the  same  remedy  has  been  adopted  in  many 


152 


THE  PASTOR  S   WIFE;  OR 


febrile  cases,  and  in  nearly  all  has  proved  equally 
successful : — 

"  I  should  apologize  for  having  written  while 
dreadfully  sleepy,  owing  to  my  anxious  night  of 
wakeful  watching  by  my  dear  husband's  bedside, 
(luring  his  sudden  and  alarming  attack  of  fever.  I 
thijik  had  you  been  here  to  witness  the  effects  of 
the  water-system  on  him  then,  you  would  fully 
agree  with  us,  that  while  air,  exercise,  simple 
habits,  &c.,  all  combine  to  promote  the  health  of 
the  patient  of  Grilfenberg,  it  was  unquestionably  the 
blessing  of  God  on  the  administration  of  the  Water- 
cure,  in  this  instance,  that  perfectly  restored  him  to 
health  in  four  days.  He  was  quite  as  ill  as  at 
Reading,  his  pulse  120,  and  the  pressure  on  the 
brain  most  distressing ;  but  the  simple,  though  cer- 
tainly unusual  remedy,  of  wrapping  him  in  cold, 
wet  sheets,  and  changing  them  as  soon  as  warm, 
keeping  the  head  constantly  wet,  and  once  in  the 
day  putting  the  back  of  it  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
into  a  basin  of  cold  water,  then  lying  out  of  doors 
in  sun  or  air  as  he  chose ; — these  combined  means, 
without  a  particle  of  medicine,  and  no  food  but 
strawberries  and  milk  (not  very  unpleasant  physic) 
w^ere  permitted,  to  the  amazement  of  all  but  the 
calm  Priesnitz,  and  those  who  have  from  long  resi- 
dence witnessed  similar  instances,  to  bring  him  to 
perfect  health  and  strength  again.  Priesnitz  says, 
it  was  a  most  satisfactory  crisis,  and  that  he  has 
now  full  permission  to  leave  in  a  fortnight,  during 
which  he  is  gradually  to  diminish  the  use  of  the 
cure.  The  Englishman  who  overtook  us  on  our 
road  to  Griifenberg,  has  just  returned  to  England, 
perfectly  cured ;  and  a  w^onderful  cure  it  is  indeed. 
A  little  child  here,  was  from  teething  in  so  dreadful 
a  fever,  that  it  was  delirious,  and  the  wet  sheets  in 


MEMOIR  OF  MkS.  SHERMAN. 


153 


which  it  was  wrapped,  became  in  less  than  five 
minutes,  quite  hot.  The  next  day  the  little  crea- 
ture was  as  well  as  usual,  except  a  slight  reduction 
of  strength,  which  such  an  attack  occasioned. 
After  the  burning  fever  was  reduced  by  wet  sheets, 
he  was  put  into  a  tepid  bath,  to  remain  till  he  was 
quite  cool :  pleased  with  his  situation,  he  played  in 
the  bath  for  nearly  one  hour,  when  becoming  cool, 
he  was  drest,  and  amused  himself  in  the  open  air, 
though  not  permitted  to  run  about,  lest  the  fever 
should  return :  it  has  once  since  returned,  but  was 
as  quickly  removed.  Oh !  how  I  long  for  it  to  be 
fully  known  in  England  ;  it  has  only  to  be  seen  in 
operation  to  be  fully  appreciated  even  by  the  most 
prejudiced  mind.  The  wonders  performed  at  the 
Westminster  Hospital  have  reached  Griifenberg; 
even  hospital  incurables  have  been  restored  by 
means  of  this  system ;  horses  and  donkeys,  (four- 
footed  donkeys  I  mean,)  have  shared  the  blessing, 
and  the  Griifenberg  cows  are  healed  of  their  mala- 
dies by  the  same  method." 

Some  few  instances  of  success  which  she  wit- 
nessed are  also  recorded. 

"  The  remedy  seems  to  benefit  the  English  sooner 
than  others.  One  case  I  really  must  tell  you.  A 
gentleman  from  D.  came  here  for  the  cure  of  dropsy 
in  the  heart  and  legs,  brought  on,  he  thinks,  long 
since,  by  the  means  employed  to  cure  the  rheuma- 
tism, to  which  he  was  a  martyr.  Sick  of  doctors' 
bills,  he  thought  he  could  but  die  if  he  came  to 
Grafenberg.  A  fortnight  after  he  came,  he  was 
seized  with  rheumatic  fever,  and  was  exceedingly 
ill ;  during  which  the  dropsy  of  heart  and  legs  for- 
sook him,  and  no  trace  of  rheumatism  remained, 
except  under  one  foot.  In  about  ten  days  a  little 
red  spot  came  in  the  calf  of  his  leg,  which  increased 


154  THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 

for  a  clay  or  two,  when  on  rising  one  morning,  he 
felt  great  pain  from  his  thigh,  down  a  vein,  to  the 
red  spot  in  his  calf.  In  a  short  time  the  skin  burst, 
a  quantity  of  blood  and  pus  escaped,  and  with  it  his 
remaining  pain.  He  is  perfectly  restored,  after  being 
here  not  quite  seven  weeks,  though  he  has  been  a 
wretched  sufferer  for  years.  He  observed  rather 
quaintly,  that  '  it  seemed  as  if  Providence  had  bored 
a  hole  to  let  his  disease  escape.'  This  is  but  one 
of  the  many  cases  continually  occurring  here :  so 
that  we  cannot  but  be  most  deeply  interested  in  the 
place,  the  people,  and  the  cure. 

"  Oh !  what  would  I  give  for  M.  Priesnitz  to 
come  to  England.  Many  whom  I  know  would,  I 
have  no  doubt,  be  perfectly  restored  to  health.  I 
am  astonished  at  every  thing  I  see  around  me.  All 
our  accustomed  opinions  seemed  turned  upside 
down.  Cold  bathing  and  sleeping  in  wet  sheets 
cure  the  rheumatism,  and  most  effectually.  Wet 
towels  on  the  chest,  for  cold  in  the  chest.  Wet 
towels  on  the  throat,  for  sore  throat.  Wet  towels 
round  the  body  and  feet  I  Drinking  cold  water  for 
spasms,  &c.  In  a  gipsy  party  the  other  day,  the 
whole  company,  except  my  husband,  adjourned, 
owing  to  the  great  heat,  to  a  pond  with  a  fountain 
in  it ;  though  delicate  ladies,  they  walked  in  the 
water,  they  played  the  fountain,  so  as  to  sprinkle 
themselves  all  over ;  not  satisfied  with  this,  they 
wetted  their  handkerchiefs,  and  laid  them  on  their 
necks  to  keep  them  cool,  and  not  one  of  the  party 
took  the  slightest  cold.  They  all  say  they  could 
not  have  done  such  things  before  they  came  to  Grii- 
fenberg ;  but  we  live  in  cold  water  here,  and  are 
such  good  friends  with  it,  that  it  never  hurts  us. 
The  most  shocking  cases  have  been  healed  by  no 
other  means  whatever.    What  a  blessing  it  would 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


155 


be  to  the  poor,  if  they  would  try  it,  but  it  requires 
generally  much  judgment  to  use  it  aright — suffi- 
ciently, but  not  too  much.  I  enjoy  it  excessively, 
especially  the  cold  bath." 

The  following  lively  sketches  of  the  state  of  re- 
ligious knowledge,  among  many  of  the  best  informed 
of  the  patients,  and  of  some  of  the  excursions  and 
visits  which  she  made,  will  be  read  with  pleasure 
by  all,  but  especially  by  such  as  have  resided  at 
Grafenberg,  as  Christians,  with  similar  feelings  to 
herself ; — 

"  It  is  extremely  amusing  to  witness  the  first 
feelings  of  newly-arrived  English.  They  start  in  a 
comparatively  luxurious  apartment  at  Freiwaldau, 
but  the  first  opinion  that  salutes  your  ears  is  the 
perfect  impossibility  of  living  in  such  a  wretched 
place.  They  are  soon  laughed  out  of  all  this  by 
the  more  contented  and  happy  inhabitants  of  the 
hovels  of  Grafenberg.  The  result  generally  is,  that 
they  leave  their  professedly  furnished  apartments 
in  Freiwaldau,  and  their  discontent  also,  to  come 
among  the  happy  ones  of  the  mountain,  and  learn 
to  be  happy  too.  The  student  of  nature,  in  all  her 
forms,  has  much  to  do  here,  especially  with  his 
own  species.  I  wish  I  could  learn,  as  some  do, 
from  observation.  You  might  then  with  reason 
expect  to  see  my  mind  expanded  and  improved ; 
but  I  was  '  ever  slow  to  learn ;'  and  ah,  how  slow 
in  that  which  is  most  important.  My  Heavenly 
Father  opens  volume  after  volume  to  me  almost  in 
vain,  and  my  progress  in  the  knowledge  of  himself, 
and  of  my  own  heart,  is  nearly  imperceptible  to 
myself,  and  I  fear  quite  so  to  others.  Pray  for  me, 
my  beloved  mother,  that  I  may  not  return  to  my 
highly-favored  land,  as  ignorant  as  I  left  it. 

"  The  public  dinner  in  honor  of  Queen  Victoria's 


156 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


birth-day  was  very  agreeable  to  all  who  attended. 
My  dear  husband  presided  with  much  propriety. 
The  party  consisted  of  Count  N  ,  of  Acre  noto- 
riety, all  the  English,  Scotch  and  Irish,  the  Prus- 
sian Consul  and  family,  and  one  lady  from  Ham- 
burgh— the  last  to  keep  the  clergyman's  lady,  Selina 
and  myself  in  countenance  ;  our  number  was  alto- 
gether seventeen.  All  the  toasts,  and  they  were 
very  few,  were  proposed  in  water.  Some  few 
would  not  drink  the  Queen's  health  in  water,  and 
two  bottles  of  champagne  were  introduced,  but  not 
more  than  the  half  of  one  bottle  was  drank.  My 
husband  gave — '  The  civil  and  religious  liberty  of 
England — may  it  be  preserved,  increased  and  ex- 
tended over  the  whole  world,'  and  descanted  on  it 
most  happily — a  foreigner  at  the  table  remarked, 
that  he  believed  that  was  the  first  time  such  a  toast 
had  ever  been  drank  in  Austria,  and  it  would  not 
be  forgotten.  O  that  liberty  might  dawn  on  that 
priest-bound  land  !  We  all  returned  home  after 
dinner,  which  is  usual  with  the  Germans — they  do 
not  attempt  to  stay  the  evening,  as  with  us.  I 
think  some  of  the  enemies  of  teetotalism  should 
come  to  Griifenberg — they  must  be  teetotalers  here  ; 
and  it  is  remarkable  to  hear  all  parties  agree  that 
using  water  as  a  constant  beverage  has  taken  away 
their  relish  for  wine,  which,  when  they  dine  out,  is 

generally  untouched.    Perhaps  Mr.  D   may 

turn  his  steps  this  way.  I  should  like  him  to  see 
how  wine-bibbers  can  prefer  water  when  they  give 
it  a  trial. 

"Yesterday,  June  13th,  we  went  on  a  picnic 
party  with  the  Consul's  family  and  some  friends, 
twenty-four  in  number,  to  a  most  lovely  spot,  about 
fifteen  miles  hence,  among  the  mountains.  We 
filled  eight  various  carriages.    The  scenery  is  quite 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


157 


d  la  Suisse.  Selina  and  I  wore  immense  straw 
hats,  like  shepherdesses,  which  are  purchased  here 
at  three-pence  each,  to  shield  us  from  the  sun,  and 
most  delightfully  did  they  perform  their  duty.  We 
wish,  for  curiosity  sake,  to  transport  them  to  Eng- 
land, ioT  garden  use.  We  dined  on  the  side  of  a 
mountain,  by  the  ruins  of  an  old  castle.  The  vil- 
lage of  Goldenstein  is  small,  and  its  inhabitants 
almost  exclusively  Jews.  I  could  not  but  look  for- 
ward to  the  time  when  such  little  portions  of  God's 
ancient  family  shall  be  restored,  and  hope  that  these 
may  be  of  the  number  of  His  elect  ones.  '  But 
how  shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom  they  have 
not  heard,  and  how  shall  they  hear  without  a 
preacher,  and  how  shall  they  preach  except  they 
be  sent  ?'  It  was  so  in  apostolic  days,  and  not  less 
so  now.  Oh  that  we  might  be  privileged  to  send 
them  a  preacher ;  but  till  the  spirit  of  God  be 
poured  out  no  power  can  introduce  to  them  the 
gospel ;  they  live  in  Austria,  and  while  the  present 
government  exists  no  preacher  will  be  admitted. 
But  how  puny  would  this  resistance  be  if  the  arm 
of  the  Lord  should  awake. 

"  Last  week  we  dined  with  a  Dutch  lady,  who, 
in  consequence  of  attending  our  Sabbath  services, 
seems  much  disposed  to  improve  opportunities  of 
friendly  converse  with  us,  and  to  show  us  marked 
attention.  She  gave  the  most  elegant  entertain- 
ment I  ever  saw  of  the  kind.  The  only  carriage 
we  could  hire  was  a  small  basket  '  wagon'  of  the 
peasants,  with  two  seats  strapped  across  the  centre, 
in  which  six  of  us  sat,  drawn  by  one  horse  affixed 
to  one  side  of  a  pole,  just  like  a  carriage  being 
conveyed  to  the  coach-maker's  for  repair.  In  this 
concern,  with  a  spirited  horse,  that  was  galloping 
and  neighing  all  the  way,  we  pelted  down  these  tre- 


158 


THE  PASTORS  WIFE)  OR 


mondous  hills,  over  great  stones,  some  as  big  as  a 
roller,  and  over  water  channels  which  cross  the 
road,  so  that  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  we 
could  keep  in  the  '  wagon.'  The  driver  kept  con- 
tinually turning  round,  to  see  whether  any  of  the 
wheels  were  coming  off  or  his  fare  shaken  out. 
Between  laughing  and  jolting,  during  two  long 
miles,  I  was  well  nigh  ill  when  I  arrived,  but  I 
soon  recovered.  The  table  was  covered  with  ele- 
gant ornaments,  arranged  in  various  devices,  and 
the  food  sent  round  in  one  dish  at  a  time,  prepared 
for  every  one  to  help  himself — fourteen  courses 
served  in  the  most  tasteful  style,  and  of  the  most 
delicate  and  delicious  flavor,  were  handed  to  us — 
of  most  of  which  I  tasted.  Because  we  were 
known  to  love  music,  a  band  greeted  us,  stationed 
in  a  marquee  in  the  garden,  where  it  ought  always 
to  be  at  dinner  parties,  or  in  an  adjoining  room, 
that  conversation  may  not  be  prevented  and  the 
head-ache  occasioned  by  its  noise.  The  intelligence 
of  the  maiden  lady  who  thus  distinguished  us,  was 
as  interesting  as  her  entertainment.  We  really 
meet  with  so  much  attention  and  kindness  that  we 
are  quite  amazed,  nor  can  we  conceive  why  we  arc 
thus  selected  from  the  three  hundred  visitors.  Oh, 
that  the  respect  which  is  paid  to  our  religious  views 
may  be  the  means  of  winning  them  to  search  for 
themselves  the  grounds  of  those  views.  My  dear 
liusband  has  adopted  this  plan  with  one  of  these 
ladies,  who  thinks  the  world  and  the  church  are  not 
lo  be  divided  :  she  knows  a  few  words  of  English, 
but  wishing  to  learn  some  whole  sentences,  he  has 
written  for  her  passages  of  Scripture,  such  as,  '  If 
any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself, 
and  take  up  his  cross  daily  and  follow  me.' — '  If 
any  man  will  be  the  friend  of  tlie  world,  he  is  (lie 


MEMOIR  OF   MUS.  SHERMAN. 


enemy  of  God.' — '  Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mam- 
mon.'— '  If  any  man  love  the  world,  the  love  of  the 
Father  is  not  in  him.'  It  may  be  that  the  Spirit 
of  God  may  apply  these,  his  own  words,  to  the 
heart,  and  that  one  lady  be  the  means  of  drawing 
others  to  Him. 

"  Our  means  of  usefulness  are  very  small,  partly 
from  the  stiff  prejudices  which  these  people  possess 
in  favor  of  the  pleasures  of  the  world,  calling  more 
frequently  for  argument  than  for  conversation  on 
personal  religion ;  as  they  assert  that  they  enjoy 
communion  with  God  in  the  Sunday  ball-room, 
more  than  in  the  quiet  of  the  closet,  which  makes 
them  sleepy.  Oh,  what  sad  reasoning  this  is  I  Hus- 
band called  on  a  nice  old  Austrian,  holding  a  high 
official  situation,  and  otherwise  a  remarkably  intel- 
ligent man,  and  in  the  course  of  conversation  quoted 
the  fourth  verse  of  the  twenty-third  Psalm,  '  Yea, 
though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death,  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for  thou  art  with  me,  thy 
rod  and  thy  staff  they  comfort  me' — he  immediately 
said,  '  Dear  me,  what  beautiful  sentiments — whose 
words  are  those?  Byron's?'  Can  you  believe  that 
such  dreadful  ignorance  could  exist  ?  How  sweet 
will  be  the  land  of  Bibles  and  ordinances  after  this 
benighted  country! 

"  You  will  be  pleased  to  hear  that  at  last  two 
additional  Christians  have  found  their  way  to  Gra- 
fenberg.  Though  I  do  not  believe  in  the  views 
which  distinguish  them,  yet  as  they  hold  all  the 
great  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  differ  only  in  com- 
paratively minor  things,  and  seem  eminently  pious, 
I  rejoice  to  see  them,  and  to  find  some  one  to  help 
me  to  heaven.  They  are,  I  fear,  a  little  too  stiff 
to  win  the  irreligious :  they  disapprove  of  music, 
and  already  the  remark  has  been  made  that  they 


160 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE)  OR 


look  SO  melancholy.  I  believe  the  Christian  who 
indulges  in  worldly  amusements,  which  are  incon- 
sistent with  his  devotedness  to  Christ,  will  never 
win  a  sinner  to  the  Savior ;  but  on  the  other  hand, 
entire  separation  from  association  with  the  ordinary 
and  intelligent  conversation  of  worldly  persons,  in 
the  circumstances  under  which  all  are  placed,  as 
one  family  at  Griifenberg,  is  rather  likely  to  preju- 
dice the  mind  against  religion  as  a  gloomy  thing. 
I  think  Griifenberg,  a  most  difficult  place  for  a 
Christian  to  live  in.  A  half-hearted  Christian 
brings  reproach  upon  his  profession,  and  on  the 
cause  of  Christ ;  a  very  stiff  separatist  from  all  in- 
tei-course  with  any  but  the  people  of  God,  brings 
reproach  in  another  way.  Happy,  indeed,  is  he 
who  shall  be  strengthened  to  adorn  the  doctrines 
he  professes,  and  to  recommend  them  to  the  world, 
while  conscience  is  uncontaminated." 

At  no  period  of  her  history  did  her  piety  glow 
with  more  heavenly  fervor  than  at  Griifenberg. 
Denied  the  public  means  of  grace,  and  wanting 
time  and  privacy  in  her  dwelling  which  home  af- 
forded her,  she  nevertheless  found  opportunities  to 
feed  her  lamp  with  oil,  and  to  go  forth  and  meet 
the  Bridegroom.  Often  has  her  husband  watched 
her  steps  to  the  beautiful  mount  which  she  so 
graphically  describes,  and  seen  her  ascend  it,  like 
Moses,  to  plead  with  God,  as  a  man  with  his  friend, 
for  him  and  his.  Sweet  indeed  was  her  commun- 
ings with  God  on  that  hill — mighty  her  wrestlings 
for  her  classes  and  the  church.  It  is  no  exaggera- 
tion to  assert,  that  when  her  husband  met  her  in 
the  high  road  after  these  exercises,  to  accompany 
her  to  the  saloon  to  breakfast,  the  expression  of 
that  communion  remained  on  her  countenance,  and 
her  first  greetings  showed  that  her  mind  was  full 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN- 


161 


of  love  and  of  God.  During  the  entire  period  she 
remained  at  Griifenberg,  she  was  not  kept  in  the 
house  above  a  single  day  by  rain :  the  little  which 
fell  came  chiefly  in  the  night,  or  descended  in  brief 
showers,  and  the  sun  so  speedily  dried  the  earth, 
that  her  visits  to  her  favorite  oratoire  were  only 
twice  interrupted.  By  the  extracts  which  follow, 
the  reader  will  see  how  that  communion  with 
heaven  sanctified  her  correspondence,  and  has  left 
instructive  lessons  for  survivors : — 

"  At  six  in  the  morning,  I  go  with  my  Bible  to  a 
most  lovely  spot,  the  summit  of  one  of  the  lesser 
mountains,  where  no  one  is  seen  so  early ;  sur- 
rounded with  a  perfect  carpet  of  most  beautiful  wild 
flowers,  the  variety  of  which  increases  every  day  ; 
the  water  rolling  below,  which,  though  scarcely 
visible,  is  to  be  heard  far  away — here  is  my  closet, 
where  I  have  the  happiest  moments  in  the  day.  I 
have  consecrated  it  to  this  use,  and  wish  to  go  there 
only  for  the  purpose  of  communion  with  God.  The 
wild  cistus  which  abounds  here,  is  peculiarly  suita- 
ble to  my  lovely  hill — it  turns  directly  to  the  sun, 
and  when  he  withdraws  his  beams,  closes  entirely. 
May  I  but  imitate  this  dear  little  flower,  the  nu- 
merous blossoms  of  which  so  prominently  turn  to 
this  glorious  orb,  that  I  cannot  but  be  powerfully 
taught  by  it,  to  keep  my  eyes  fixed  on  the  great 
Sun  of  Righteousness,  to  make  Him  my  life,  my 
joy,  my  all  in  all,  and  when  He  withdraws,  to 
close  my  eyes  and  heart  to  every  other,  until  He 
returns. 

"It  is  sweet  to  feel,  that  though  not  less  than  a 
thousand  miles  separate  us  from  our  most  deeply- 
loved  friends  at  Surrey,  we  meet  in  spirit,  day  by 
day,  at  the  same  throne,  whence  even  in  heathen 
Austria  the  meanest  suppliant  may  draAV  treasures 


162 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


of  grace,  beyond  all  we  can  ask  or  think,  and  we 
may  even  mutually  procure  blessings  thence  for 
each  other.  This  has  greatly  cheered  my  heart 
many  times,  while  it  has  yearned  over  the  multitudes 
of  precious  souls  in  this  place,  who,  in  the  midst  of 
the  most  striking  displays  of  the  Divine  power,  both 
in  the  beauties  of  nature,  which  are  grand  indeed, 
and  in  the  recovery  of  the  most  hopeless  sufferers, 
by  the  judicious  application  of  the  simplest  and 
most  abundant  of  His  gifts  to  us,  either  deny  His 
existence,  or  utterly  forget  it,  and  live  regardless 
of  their  obligations  to  Him.  It  is  sweet  here  to 
believe,  that  God  is  present,  as  with  them  in  Lon- 
don— that  here,  answers  to  the  far-distant  prayer 
may  descend,  and  perhaps  even  mercies  may  be  in 
reserve  for  this  remote  land,  through  their  suppli- 
cations, in  happy,  dear  England.  My  heart  has 
been  able  to  cast  away  many  a  load  since  I  have 
been  here,  by  telling  it  to  that  heavenly  visitant. 
Why  do  I  love  Him  so  little,  and  serve  Him  so 
miserably?  How  unaccountable  it  is  to  me,  that 
when  I  compare  with  himself,  his  favor  and  service 
every  thing  I  can  think  of,  all  appears  perfectly 
insignificant,  and  my  spirit  glows  to  realize  its  rich 
hopes  and  possessions ;  yet  my  mind,  not  my  heart, 
is  so  much  engaged  with  worldly  trifles,  and  things 
for  which  it  has  really  no  taste  or  enjoyment !  I  am 
not  ohliged  to  be  so  occupied  mentally,  and  I  deli- 
berately reject  all  relish  for  them,  yet  there  they 
are  :  trifles,  worthless  and  unprofitable,  fill  the  mind 
that  belongs  to  God.  When  at  dear  Surrey,  there 
is  too  much  work  in  the  service  of  God  to  allow  the 
same  occupation  of  mind  in  such  trifles,  yet  even 
there  it  exists — a  tyrant,  striving  to  reign. 

"  We  almost  envy  those  who  are  privileged  to 
meet  with  the  excellent  of  the  earth,  at  the  May 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


163 


Meetings,  and  have  traced  them  day  by  day,  as 
well  as  we  could,  without  a  Missionary  Magazine. 
We  are  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes  before  you 
in  time,  which  spoils  many  a  meeting  in  spirit  with 
you ;  but  as  far  as  possible  we  endeavor  to  remem- 
ber and  follow  those  hallowed  occupations,  which 
seem  for  the  time  to  lessen  the  distance  which  se- 
parates us  from  each  other. 

"  How  sweet  will  it  be  to  behold  Him  with  more 
than  faith's  feeble  eye,  to  see  Him  as  He  is,  and  be 
able  to  bear  the  sight,  all  weakness,  impurity,  and 
sin  for  ever  put  away,  and  temptation  dreaded  no 
more  ;  who  can  conceive  what  it  must  be  to  be  like 
Christ !  Our  most  exalted  conception  of  the  hea- 
venly world,  and  of  the  spirits  redeemed  by  blood, 
are  so  defective,  and  fall  so  far  short  of  the  reality, 
that  we  must  be  satisfied  with  that  full  assurance 
of  Him  who  cannot  overstate  the  truth,  that  '  eye 
hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered 
into  the  heart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath 
prepared  for  them  that  love  him.'  May  but  this 
bright  portion  be  ours — then  the  now  painful  steps 
which  our  Father  appoints  to  bring  us  thither,  will 
be  looked  back  upon  with  joy,  and  a  full  conviction 
be  possessed,  which  we  are  too  slow  to  believe,  that 
'  He  led  us  by  the  right  way  to  that  blest  city.' 

"  The  numerous  springs  around  us  which  so 
abundantly  contribute  to  the  healing  of  the  sick, 
remind  us  of  that  living  water  which  is  to  be  '  in 
us,  a  well  of  water,  springing  up  into  everlasting 
life.'  And  who  can  be  blest  with  such  a  supply, 
and  not  feel,  if  he  constantly  drink  it,  his  spiritual 
maladies  getting  daily  weaker  and  weaker.  Tell 
P.  these  springs  often  bring  him  before  me,  as  he  is 
longing  for  the  water  of  life,  and  when  I  think  with 
an  aching  heart  what  bitter  things  he  is  writing 


1(34 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


against  himself,  the  promise  comes  with  force, 
'  Elessed  are  they  that  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness,  for  they  shall  be  filled.' 

"  The  eclipse  of  the  sun,  on  the  8th  of  July,  was 
with  us  extremely  solemn  and  beautiful.  The  pea- 
sants shook  their  heads,  and  went  to  church  to  count 
their  beads,  and  utter  additional  paternosters.  I 
shall  not  easily  forget  it,  nor  the  intense  cold  which 
accompanied  it.  It  was  over  here  a  little  before 
seven  in  the  morning,  when  I  adjourned  to  my  own 
ilear  hill,  my  oratoire,  hoping  to  learn  some  useful 
lessons  from  reflecting  on  the  cold,  which  the  con- 
cealment of  the  sun  occasions,  when  some  great 
object  intervenes  between  it  and  the  earth.  And, 
is  it  not  the  same,  when  a  far  inferior  object  places 
itself  between  the  soul  and  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness ?  Oh,  that  the  intervening  body,  and  the  con- 
sequent coldnesses,  were  as  quickly  withdrawn  from 
the  mind,  as  from  the  earth ;  and  oh,  that  their  re- 
currence were  as  rare  I" 

To  her  mamma,  she  thus  expresses  the  sanctified 
feelings  of  a  Christian  mother,  on  behalf  of  her  child, 
and  gives  a  playful  description  of  scenes  which  de- 
lighted her  maternal  imagmation. 

"  I  hope  ray  sweet  babe  continues  good,  and  is 
learning  plenty  of  hymns  and  Scripture,  to  repeat 
to  her  half-forgotten  mamma.  I  thought  of  her, 
little  darling,  yesterday,  Whit  Monday,  which,  four 
years  ago,  was  her  birthday,  when  it  fell  on  the  4th 
of  June.  Dear  little  lamb,  how  can  I  be  sufficiently 
thankful  to  you  for  your  great  kindness  in  taking 
charge  of  her  during  my  long  absence.  O  I  that 
she  may  reward  it,  by  consecrating  her  infant  heart 
to  his  service,  who  has  placed  her  in  that  highly- 
favored  land  where  God  is  known  and  served,  in- 
stead of  in  Austria.    How  much  wisdom  I  need  to 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


1G5 


direct  her  as  she  grows  up.  Theory,  I  think  less 
and  less  of  alone,  still  theory  has  its  advantages ; 
some  good  may  be  extracted  from  occupying  the 
mind  with  the  subject.  But  although  general  prin- 
ciples are  adapted  to  all  children,  tlie  peculiar  tem- 
pers and  habits  of  many,  require  a  mode  of  treat- 
ment for  which  no  precise  rules  can  be  laid  down. 
Shall  I  not  see  her  much  grown  ?  Precious  pet — 
there  is  no  child  here  so  sweet  as  she  I  May  she 
but  be  as  good  in  God's  eyes,  through  the  righte- 
ousness of  Christ,  and  the  sanctifying  influences  of 
his  blessed  Spirit,  as  she  is  dear  to  her  mother's 
heart. 

I  cannot  believe  that  so  long  a  time  remains 
before  I  can  see  my  beloved  ones  at  home.  I  dream 
of  home,  and  awake  refreshed  with  the  airy  vision ; 
some  anticipations  prove  to  be  only  imaginary,  but 
I  trust  this  will  be  of  a  far  different  character ;  a 
real,  happy,  and  abiding  interview,  till  we  remove 
to  a  world  of  pure  and  constant  joy,  where  separa- 
tion and  sorrow  are  unknown.  I  picture  to  myself 
my  little  pet  coming  in  after  dinner,  to  sit  by  her 
own  dear  grandmamma,  and  to  look  at  her  own 
dear  grandpapa  ;  receiving  from  him  occasional  re- 
proofs, most  wise  and  judicious,  for  native  bluntness 
of  manner,  and  lack  of  that  politeness  which  is  so 
great  an  ornament  to  a  young  lady.  1  imagine  I 
see  papa  with  his  glass  of  wine  half-emptied,  rising 
from  a  beautiful  dish  of  strawberries,  with  great 
indignation  against  the  noisy  and  stinging  remarks 
of  the  wasp  tribe,  who  come  to  investigate  the  state 
of  the  fruit  this  season.  I  (perhaps  presumptuous- 
ly) imagine  myself  the  subject  of  occasional  con- 
versation, while  you  lean  back  in  your  chair,  to 
quiet  a  rebellious  stomach  that  refuses  to  perform 
its  duties  of  digestion  as  it  ought;  your  hands 


166 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


locked,  with  each  fore-finger  in  union  above  its 
companions,  like  Snowden,  above  its  sister  moun- 
tains ;  the  feet  on  the  stool,  while  Tooty,  now  and 
then,  gives  an  expressive  look  of  approbation  at  the 
strawberries,  which  her  kind  grandmamma  has 
given,  and  if  her  Avise  judgment  prohibit  an  addi- 
tional supply,  trotting  round  to  grandpapa,  climb- 
ing his  knee,  and  saying,  '  I  want  to  'peak  in  your 
ear.'  Precious  group!  woukl  I  could  see  and  kiss 
thee  now ;  but  I  must  not  wish  time  away,  to  bring 
me  to  you  again ;  the  responsibility  of  its  employ- 
ment is  too  great  to  allow  us  to  wish  it  to  slip 
by.  Oh,  that  1  could  here  employ  it  for  God 
more  I" 

Much  of  the  grief  occasioned  by  cessation  from 
pastoral  labors,  and  of  the  despondency  into  which 
an  active  mind  is  apt  to  fall,  when  long  unemployed, 
were  greatly  relieved  by  good  tidings  of  the  state 
of  the  flock,  and  by  fraternal  Christian  epistles,  full 
of  sympathy  and  love,  which  the  Elders  of  the 
Church  sent  to  cheer  their  minister.  This  con- 
solation was,  of  course,  shared  by  an  affectionate 
wife. 

"  We  have  good  news,  indeed,  from  Surrey ;  the 
affection  of  the  people  for  their  pastor  seems  to  grow 
with  his  absence,  and  calls  for  lively  gratitude  to 
Him,  who  has  granted  such  unmerited  goodness  and 
mercy.  What  can  we  render  to  the  Lord  for  all 
goodness  to  us  I  How  little  we  feel  our  obliga- 
tions !  How  feeble  and  utterly  inadequate  are  oirr 
returns  to  Him  !  This  lovely  spot  is  not  the  place 
for  the  promotion  of  piety  ;  though  I  trust  we  have 
been  kept  from  all  visible  worldly  conformity ; 
perhaps  there  is  less  danger  here,  than  when  we 
mix  with  the  wordly  religious.  For  myself,  I 
think  I  can  say  I  view  the  precious  truths  of  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


167 


gospel  with  a  joy  I  never  knew  before  ;  the  founda- 
tion of  my  hope  seems  so  immovable,  so  worthy 
the  trust  of  an  immortal  soul ;  and  as  conversation 
elicits  the  infidel  views  of  one  after  the  other,  I 
feel  lost  in  amazement,  that  such  worms  as  we 
should  have  been  brought  into  the  glorious  light 
of  the  gospel,  and  enabled  '  to  lay  hold  on  eternal 
life.'  " 

The  last  public  service  in  the  cottage,  at  which 
a  farewell  was  taken  of  the  congregation  to  which 
her  husband  had  ministered,  and  the  tribute  of  af- 
fection they  gave  him  at  parting  is  thus  stated ; 

"Last  Sunday,  July  17th,  expecting  to  leave 
Grafenberg  on  Friday  next,  my  husband  took  his 
leave  of  the  little  motley  congregation.    At  the 

conclusion  of  the  service  Mr.  B          rose,  and 

with  much  feeling  said,  that  he  was  convinced  he 
was  uttering  the  sentiment  of  all  when  he  expressed 
his  gratitude  for  the  invaluable  services  Mr.  S. 
had  rendered,  by  acceding  to  their  request  and  con- 
ducting worship  among  them  with  so  much  pro- 
priety and  acceptance.  Many  other  expressions  of 
kindness  and  affection  fell  from  his  lips,  which,  as 
they  came  from  one  who  held  such  different  senti- 
ments from  those  which  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
hear  on  these  occasions,  were  very  grateful.  Most 

wept  at  separating.    Even  old  Mr.  L   was 

much  affected.    This  was  the  more  interesting 

from  the  circumstance  that  the  B  s  and  the 

S  s  were  the  only  professedly  pious  persons 

present. 

"A  public  dinner,  the  best  that  can  be  procured, 
is  to  be  given  us  at  our  departure,  and  every  token 
of  respect  that  can  be  shown  they  intend  to  mani- 
fest. This  is  very  gratifying  but  very  astonishing 
1o  us.    Why  we  are  treated  so  above  the  rest  con- 


168  THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 

tinually,  we  cannot  imagine :  we  only  wish  we 
could  requite  their  kindness  Avith  those  solid 
blessings  which  should  ever  memorialize  us.  It 
may  be  that  the  dew  from  the  Lord  shall  yet 
fall  on  the  seed  sown,  and  cause  all  error  to  be  re- 
nounced. 

"  On  Friday,  July  29th,  the  public  dinner  was 
given  to  us,  which  was  preceded  by  a  deputation  to 
my  good  husband,  with  a  document  signed  by  his 
little  congregation,  couched  in  the  most  grateful 
terms  for  his  services.  Nothing  could  be  more 
pleasant  than  the  banquet — it  was  given  in  the 
large  room  of  a  summer-house,  belonging  to  Pries- 
nitz,  on  the  summit  of  one  of  the  hills,  and  com- 
manding a  magnificent  prospect.  The  room  was 
decorated  with  festoons  of  wild  flowers  and  branches 
of  trees,  and  the  provisions  were  both  ample  antl 

elegant.    Mr.  B  ,  who  presided,  made  a  short 

but  pretty  speech,  on  the  pleasure  they  had  derived 
from  our  society,  and  the  benefits  which  they  hoped 
would  result  from  the  services  of  the  Sabbath,  and 
concluded  by  wishing  us,  in  the  name  of  the  whole 
company,  a  safe  and  successful  tour  to  our  beloved 
home.  This  called  up  my  husband,  and  inaspeech 
of  great  feehng  and  seriousness,  he  reminded  them 
of  the  responsibilities  of  the  past,  and  of  our  again 
meeting  to  give  an  account  of  all  our  instructiops 
and  privileges.  After  a  few  faithful  remarks,  de- 
livered in  a  playful  manner,  on  the  timidity  of  some 
who  came  to  that  feast,  but  through  fear  of  the 
police  had  kept  away  from  the  Sabbath  service,  he 
concluded  by  most  afl^ectionately  urging  them  to 
bear  in  mind  the  solemn  truths  which,  in  great  fee- 
bleness, he  had  urged  upon  their  attention.  I  hope 
the  last  appeal  was  not  without  its  gracious  effect. 
When  he  alluded  to  the  marriage  supper  of  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  169 

Lamb,  and  expressed  his  earnest  desire  in  the 
warmest  and  tenderest  tones  that  all  might  partake 
of  that  feast,  and  continue  in  the  worship  and  ser- 
vice of  the  Redeemer  for  ever,  all  were  affected 
and  seemed  to  respond  a  hearty  Amen." 


15 


170 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

JOURNEY   FROM  GP.AFENBERG  THROUGH  THE  TYROL 
AND  SWITZERLAND  TO  ENGLAND. 

There  was  but  one  serious  drawback  to  the  joy 
Mrs.  Sherman  experienced  in  leaving  Griifenberg ; 
her  husband  was  returning  to  his  important  charge, 
with  his  health  perfectly  restored  and  her  own 
greatly  improved  ;  but  Selina  was  left  behind,  with 
the  hope  that  a  longer  stay  there  would  give  tone 
and  strength  to  her  system.  The  following  state- 
ment of  the  reasons  which  induced  her  parents  to 
leave  her  at  Griifenberg,  is  extracted  from  a  sketch 
of  her  character  by  her  father,  which  has  been  pre- 
viously presented  to  the  public. 

"  Her  constitution  was  healthful  and  robust  till 
the  age  of  three  years,  but  from  that  period  she  ex- 
hibited symptoms  of  great  weakness.  To  her 
sainted  mother  she  was  an  object  of  much  solicitude 
and  affection ;  while  her  quietude,  patience  and 
cheerfulness,  at  that  tender  age,  endeared  her  to  all 
who  knew  her.  When  about  eight  years  old  she 
was  supposed  to  have  an  affection  of  the  spine,  for 
which  she  lay  in  a  horizontal  position  for  nine 
months,  without  moving,  under  the  care  of  Dr. 
Harrison.  The  treatment,  however,  appeared  to 
increase  her  general  del)ility,  and  when  she  was 
again  permitted  to  walk,  it  was  with  greater  diffi- 
culty and  feebleness  than  before.  During  the  time 
of  her  residence  at  school,  wlu  re  every  considerate 
and  maternal  attention  was  jiaid  l)y  lier  preceptress 


MEMOIR  OK  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


171 


to  the  state  of  her  health,  she  had  frequent  attacks 
of  indisposition,  which  created  great  fears  that  she 
would  not  arrive  at  maturity.  Her  flow  of  animal 
spirits,  the  bloom  on  her  cheek,  and  her  natural  re- 
serve on  all  subjects  relating  to  herself,  prevented 
many  from  discerning  her  weakness  and  frequent 
suffering.  They  were  rarely  the  subject  of  com- 
plaint even  to  her  sister,  or  to  those  most  endeared 
to  her.  She  was  anxious  to  accompany  us  to  Grii- 
fenberg,  and  make  the  experiment  of  the  efficacy 
of  the  water-cure  on  her  debilitated  frame.  In  a 
short  time  the  beneficial  effects  became  visible,  her 
strength  increased  so  much  that  she  walked  regu- 
larly three  times  a  day  up  and  down  a  steep  hill, 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  long,  besides  other 
walks,  with  comparative  ease ;  and  we  fondly 
hoped  that  we  should  see  her  return  home  in  the 
plenitude  of  health.  About  a  fortnight  before  we 
left  Griifenberg  she  said,  with  great  anxiety  and 
affection,  '  I  think,  dear  papa,  if  you  would  permit 
me  to  remain  here  a  few  months  longer,  I  should 
get  quite  well ;  my  recovery  is  progressing  so  fast 
that  it  seems  a  pity  to  leave  when  you  do.'  We 
remonstrated  with  her  on  her  request,  showed  her 
the  difficulties  to  which  she  would  be  subject,  the 
anxieties  we  should  feel  about  her  at  such  a  dis- 
tance from  home,  and  especially  the  impossibility 
of  coming  to  her,  if  she  should  be  ill  or  dying  ;  but 
with  a  cheerfulness  and  calmness  not  easily  forgot- 
ten, she  replied,  '  O,  papa,  you  know  very  few  per- 
sons die  here,  and  from  my  evident  improvement 
under  the  system  it  is  not  likely  that  I  shall  be 
worse  or  die  at  Griifenberg.  I  doubt  not  some 
Christian  friends  would  let  me  live  with  them — I 
shall  give  them  little  trouble  and  require  but  little 
attention.'    We  expressed  astonishment  at  her  cou- 


172  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

rage,  especially  as  she  was  an  ardent  lover  of  home 
and  of  her  parents ;  but  with  tears  standing  in  her 
eyes,  and  a  look  that  awoke  our  strongest  sympa- 
thy, she  said,  '  Yes,  but  health  is  A'ery  precious, 
and  what  sacrifice  should  I  not  make  for  it.'  Find- 
ing her  so  intent  upon  it,  affection  for  her  welfare 
would  not  allow '  us  at  once  to  deny  her,  but  we 
told  her  that  we  would  think  and  pray  over  it.  In 
the  meantime,  M.  Priesnitz  was  consulted,  who  con- 
firmed her  views,  by  assuring  us  that  he  had  no 
doubt,  from  the  improvement  she  had  made,  three 
months  longer  would  effect  a  perfect  cure.  At  the 
same  time  two  dear  Christian  friends,  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Stewart  and  his  devoted  wife,  volunta- 
l  ily  offered  to  take  charge  of  her  as  their  own 
daughter,  and  to  bring  her  home  with  them  when 
they  returned  to  England,  which  they  expected 
would  be  about  the  middle  of  October.  The  pro- 
vidence of  God  seemed  to  smile  upon  her  proposal 
— to  remove  difficulties  and  to  answer  prayer — and 
after  a  few  days  of  hesitation  we  gave  our  consent. 
When  it  was  communicated  to  her,  she  threw  her 
arras  round  her  father's  neck — precious  child  ! — 
and  said,  '  Thank  you,  Oh !  thank  you,  dear  papa, 
a  thousand  times  for  your  kindness  and  the  sacri- 
fices you  are  willing  to  make  for  me.'  She  wrote 
home  to  her  sister  and  to  the  nurse  who  had  had 
charge  of  her  from  an  early  age,  expressing  her  joy 
that  she  had  permission  to  remain,  and  her  hope 
and  confidence  that  she  should  return  as  strong  as 
any  of  them.  With  emotions  in  which  hope  pre- 
dominated we  kissed  her  sweet  lips — little  imagining 
that  it  was  the  last  time  that  token  of  affection 
would  be  given." 

It  seemed  necessary  in  justice  to  Mrs.  Sherman 
to  recite  these  particulars,  without  which,  her  fu- 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.  SHERMAN. 


173 


ture  reference  to  the  circumstance  of  her  daughter's 
remaining  at  Griifenberg,  would  be  scarcely  under- 
stood. Her  memorial  of  the  events  of  the  journey, 
will  now  describe  the  moments  of  departure,  and 
her  subsequent  movements,  till  her  arrival  at 
home. 

Monday  morning,  August  2nd. — "  We  took  our 
leave  of  Griifenberg — dear  Griifenberg,  the  scene  of 
so  much  and  such  varied  interest.  At  six  o'clock, 
I  went  to  my  little  hill  for  the  last  time  with  deep 
emotion.  I  can  never  forget  that  sweet  spot,  and 
seem  to  realize  what  Jacob  felt,  when  he  remem- 
bered Bethel  as  the  place  where  God  answered  him 
in  the  day  of  his  distress.  At  seven  o'clock  we 
breakfasted  in  the  cottage  ;  and  after  family  devo- 
tion, in  which  our  precious  Selina  was  specially 
commended  to  God,  we  invited  the  landlord  and 
his  family  to  come  in,  and  receive  some  parting 
tokens  of  our  regard  for  their  attentions.  My  dear 
husband,  at  my  request,  undertook  the  pleasant  task 
of  presenting  our  gifts,  and  addressing  to  each  a  few 
sentences  of  spiritual  advice.  Our  kind  friend  Mrs. 
K.  acted  as  interpreter.  To  the  youngest  daughter  he 
gave  a  gown — to  the  eldest  a  shawl — to  the  son  a 
coat — and  to  the  father  a  pair  of  boots — then  taking 
up  the  German  Bible,  in  which  the  mother  had 
been  accustomed  to  read,  he  addressed  the  old  lady 
to  the  following  effect :  '  This  precious  book,  which 
you  have  often  returned  with  regret,  we  purchased 
to  read  occasionally  ourselves,  but  principally  that 
it  might  show  you  the  way  of  salvation.  It  tells 
you  how  Christ,  by  his  death  on  the  Cross,  made 
one  sacrifice  for  sin,  and  that  if  you  depend  on  that 
atonement,  it  will  save  you  from  all  guilt,  without 
penance,  or  the  mass,  or  any  ceremony  whatever. 
Our  parting  words  to  you  are,  'Believe  on  the 


174  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  you  shall  be  saved.'  Exam- 
ine that  book  for  yourself;  pray  to  God  for  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  enable  you  to  understand  its 
contents ;  never  part  with  it  as  long  as  you  live, 
whatever  the  priest  may  threaten,  and  then  leave 
it  to  your  children,  as  the  richest  legacy  you  can 
bestow.  We  present  you,  Mrs.  Schubert,  with 
God's  own  book.'  With  an  inexpressible  look  of 
astonishment,  she  took  the  Bible,  exclaiming,  '  Is 
this  for  me?  Am  I  to  keep  it  as  my  own ?'  '  Yes,' 
he  replied,  '  it  is  a  gift  to  you,  Mrs.  Schubert,  and 
when  you  die,  your  eldest  child  is  to  have  it.'  She 
immediately  pressed  it  to  her  lips,  and  kissed  it 
repeatedly,  while  the  tears  streamed  down  her  face. 
Then  laying  it  quickly  on  the  table,  she  sprang 
forward,  threw  her  arms  round  my  husband's  neck, 
kissed  both  his  cheeks,  and  in  tones  of  gratitude 
that  would  have  melted  any  heart,  said,  'Thank 
you! — thank  you!  O  the  beautiful  book!  The 
priest  take  it  from  me !  No — he  shall  have  my  life 
first!'  Though  somewhat  amused  with  the  inci- 
dent, the  scene  quite  overcame  us,  especially  my 
precious  Selina,  and  I  could  not  help  praying  that 
we  might  hear  something  good  of  that  Bible. 

"Before  nine  o'clock,  our  rustic  abode  was  filled 
with  our  kind  neighbors  and  several  of  the  peasants, 
who  came  to  bid  us  farewell.  It  rained  heavily  as 
we  entered  the  carriage.  One  of  the  many  who 
surrounded  us,  a  Roman  Catholic  nobleman,  said, 
'  the  weeping  heavens  were  an  emblem  of  their 
feelings  at  our  departure.'  We  drove  to  our  dear 
friend's,  the  clergyman,  who  was  too  ill  to  come  to 
us.  His  rapid  decrease  of  strength,  within  the  last 
four  days,  intimated  too  plainly  the  impossibility 
of  his  reaching  England.  Yet  he  talked  with  the 
greatest  cheerfulness  of  visiting  us  and  his  brother 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


175 


in  London,  at  the  end  of  September,  God  grant 
lie  may  at  least  live  to  reach  Guernsey !  We  shall 
in  all  probability  never  meet  again  till  we  unite 
with  the  redeemed  around  the  throne  of  God.  We 
were  accompanied  on  our  journey  by  our  friend  Mr. 
B.,  whose  kindness,  on  all  occasions,  has  been  very 
marked,  but  who,  lady-like,  kept  us  waiting  for 
him  an  hour  at  least. 

"  I  had  an  aching  heart  in  leaving  my  dear  child 
behind,  so  far  from  me  ;  but  she  was  under  the  care 
of  praying  friends,  and,  above  all,  in  the  hands  of 
our  Heavenly  Father,  whose  providence  directed 
her  stay.  Many  petitions  have  ascended  that  this 
circumstance  may  issue  in  her  conversion  to  God. 
The  roads  were  very  heavy,  but  having  a  strong 
carriage  and  three  fat  horses  abreast,  we  travelled 
pleasantly,  though  not  rapidly.  At  Hansdorf,  we 
dined,  and  rested  our  horses,  then  proceeded  through 
lovely  scenery  to  Middleth,  which  we  reached 
when  all  were  asleep,  the  place  perfectly  dark,  with 
the  exception  of  a  tiny  lamp,  which  directed  the 
weary  traveller  to  the  inn ;  we  drove  over  a  pile 
of  stones  which  almost  overturned  us,  but  provi- 
dentially, the  horses  were  soon  set  straight,  and  in 
a  little  time,  a  half-dressed,  half-asleep  waiter, 
opened  the  gates  for  our  admission,  and  awoke,  as  far 
as  he  could,  the  cook.  We  were  very  hungry,  but 
our  chief  wants  were  supplied  by  a  dish  of  cold 
venison  and  cherries.  My  throat  was  much  swol- 
len, and  notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  my  kind  and 
attentive  husband,  I  was  almost  starved,  for  neither 
eggs  nor  milk  could  be  procured,  and  as  the  fires 
were  all  extinguished,  nothing  could  be  prepared 
which  I  could  swallow.  At  one  o'clock,  we 
started  for  Olmiitz,  in  pouring  rain,  where  we  ar- 
rived at  six,  and  had  just  time  to  get  into  the  train, 


I 


THE  pastor's   WITE  ;  OR 


but  none  for  breakfast.  We  entered  Vienna  about 
twelve. 

"Notwithstanding  our  state  of  starvation,  we 
were  detained  nearly  an  hour  at  the  Custom-House, 
while  our  luggage  was  searched  and  our  persons 
felt.  Poor  Mr.  B.  was  fined  eight  shillings  for 
bringing  with  him  four  letters,  one  of  introduction 
to  a  gentleman  at  Vienna,  and  three  for  an  Eng- 
lishman, which  arrived  after  he  had  left  Griifen- 
berg ;  though  the  seals  were  broken,  and  all  had 
come  by  their  own  post,  he  had  to  submit  to  this 
shameful  fine.  We  had  no  idea  of  any  scrutiny  in 
passing  from  one  part  of  Austria  to  another.  At 
last  our  luggage  was  put  into  a  fiacre,  a  hackney 
caleshe,  the  driver  of  which,  though  dirty,  was  so 
exceedingly  fine,  that  you  might  have  supposed  him 
dressed  in  the  deseited  livery  that  decks  our  sheriff's 
carriages.  The  three-cornered  colonel's  hat,  and 
richly  laced  dress,  ill  becomes  one  who  earns  his 
fortune  by  driving  cattle. 

"We  took  up  our  quarters  in  the  Stadt  London, 
an  exceedingly  pleasant  hotel,  and  in  a  short  time 
were  presented  with  an  excellent  dinner  of  several 
varieties,  for  which  we  paid  a  very  moderate  sum. 
Vienna,  the  capital  of  Austria,  and  the  imperial 
city,  contains  above  350,000  inhabitants,  and  in 
form  resembles  a  spider's  web,  all  the  streets  tend- 
ing fo  a  centre  near  the  Cathedral.  The  old  part 
of  the  city,  contrary  to  most  capitals,  is  the  most 
fashionable.  The  streets  are  narrow,  and  as  there 
is  no  pavement,  you  run  the  risk  of  having  your 
toes  smashed  by  the  carriage  wheels,  which  seem 
to  be  generally  driven  at  a  smart  pace.  Like  the 
houses  in  Scotland,  many  are  very  lofty,  and  let 
out  in  stories,  one  of  which  often  contains  two  or 
three  dwellings.    Some  of  the  shops  are  very  splen- 


MEMOIR  or  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


177 


did,  and  distinguished  by  signs  painted  by  talented 
artists.  The  Cathedral  is  a  lofty  and  imposing 
Gothic  building,  and  the  tower,  with  its  buttresses 
and  arches,  a  wonderful  work  of  art,  with  which  I 
was  greatly  charmed.  The  interior  is  gloomy,  but 
the  richly  painted  glass,  elegant  sculptures,  and  vast 
proportions,  render  the  coup  d'ceil  very  imposing. 
It  contains  a  marble  monument  of  the  Emperor 
Frederick,  ornamented  with  two  hundred  and  forty 
figures,  and  forty  coats  of  arms,  the  production  of 
an  artist  at  Strasburg. 

"  Our  chief  attraction  was  the  great  work  of  Ca- 
nova,  a  monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  the 
Archduchess  Christina  of  Saxe  Teschen,  in  the 
church  of  the  Augustines.  Russel  thus  describes 
it : — '  A  pyramid  of  grayish  marble,  twenty-eight 
feet  high,  and  connected  by  two  broad  steps  with 
a  long  and  solid  base,  is  placed  against  the  wall  of 
the  church.  In  the  centre  is  an  opening,  represent- 
ing the  entrance  of  the  funeral  vault,  and  two  me- 
lancholy groups  are  slowly  ascending  towards  it. 
The  first,  consists  of  Virtue,  bearing  the  urn  which 
contains  the  ashes  of  the  deceased,  to  be  deposited 
in  the  tomb ;  and  by  her  side  are  twin  little  girls, 
carrying  torches,  to  illuminate  the  gloomy  sepulchre. 
Behind  them.  Benevolence  ascends  the  steps,  sup- 
porting an  old  man,  who  seems  scarcely  able  to 
totter  along,  so  rapidly  is  he  sinking  beneath  age, 
infirmity  and  grief.  A  child  accompanies  him,  fold- 
ing its  little  hands,  and  hanging  down  its  head  in 
infantine  sorrow.  On  the  other  side,  couches  a  me- 
lancholy Lion,  and  beside  him  a  desponding  Genius; 
over  the  door  of  the  vault  is  a  medallion  of  the 
Archduchess,  held  up  by  Happiness,  and  opposite, 
a  Genius  on  the  wing  presents  to  her  the  palm  of 
triumph.    The  figure  of  the  old  man,  whom  Bene- 


178 


THE   pastor's   WIl-  E  ;  OR 


volence  supports  to  the  grave  of  his  benefactress,  is 
exquisite ;  his  limbs  actually  seem  to  totter,  and 
the  muscles  of  his  face  to  quiver  with  agitation. 
The  composition  is  a  most  elegant  one — pure  and 
chaste  throughout.' 

"  The  Capuchin  Church  is  interesting,  only  as 
containing  the  burial  vault  of  the  imperial  family. 
A  Capuchin  brother  shows,  by  torch  light,  a  heap 
of  seventy  metal  coffins.  The  library  is  very  re- 
markable, both  for  the  extent  of  its  books  and 
manuscripts.  It  owes  its  origin  to  the  private  col- 
lection formed  by  the  Emperor  Frederick  III.,  1440, 
and  has  been  increased  by  successive  acquisitions 
of  later  Austrian  sovereigns,  to  300,000  volumes, 
and  16,000  manuscripts.  It  was  thrown  open  to 
the  public  by  Charles  VI.  A  tablet  of  bronze,  on 
which  is  engraved  a  Roman  act  of  Parliament, 
forbidding  Bacchanalian  ceremonies,  dated  in  the 
year  of  Rome,  567,  or  b.  c,  186,  interested  us  tee- 
totallers. 

"  In  summer,  after  six  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
the  whole  population  of  Vienna  seem  to  resort  to 
the  elegant  cafes  on  the  Volks-garten — the  respect- 
able of  both  sexes  as  well  as  the  poorer  classes. 
Small  tables,  in  vast  numbers,  are  placed  in  the 
open  air,  Avhich  are  occupied  by  crowds  who  take 
their  coffee,  ices  or  supper,  and  listen  to  an  excel- 
lent band  of  music.  For  admittance  a  few  kreut- 
zcrs  only  are  paid,  and  refreshments  are  furnished 
at  most  reasonable  prices.  A  pious  and  intelligent 
friend  assured  us  that  in  these  gardens  innocent  re- 
creation was  blended  with  amusement.  He  bore 
testimony  that  on  two  occasions  on  which  he  had 
been  present,  nothing  transpired  within  his  view 
that  was  not  in  unison  with  the  strictest  propriety. 
The  first  evening  he  heard  the  band  of  Lanner,  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


179 


rival  of  Strauss — the  next  evening  the  band  ot 
Strauss  played  ;  the  first  was  lovely,  the  latter  per- 
fect. It  was  a  cheap  and  rational  entertainment, 
and  he  wished  England  could  adopt  similar  methods 
of  cultivating  a  taste  for  manly  amusements  and  ra- 
tional pleasures,  which  might  break  off  the  popula- 
tion from  grosser  delights.  But  she  has  greater 
and  nobler  than  these — we  will  not  sigh  for  the 
blade  while  we  possess  the  full  corn  in  the  ear. 

"  At  one  o'clock,  Friday,  the  5th  of  August,  we 
started  from  Vienna  for  Linz,  in  a  carriage,  which 
accompanied  the  Eilwagen,  without  luggage,  and 
with  two  genteel  young  men  as  companions. 
Through  the  night  we  travelled  in  perfect  silence, 
broken  only  by  the  sound  of  changing  horses  and 
of  knocking  off  our  drag  from  the  wheel,  to  which 
it  clung  with  provoking  tenacity  every  time  it  was 
used.  At  noon  we  reached  Linz,  hot  and  weary, 
and  found  most  agreeable  accommodations  at  the 
Goldner  Lowe. 

"  Linz  is  beautiful  for  situation,  commanding, 
especially  in  its  immediate  vicinity,  most  extensive 
and  picturesque  views.  In  the  evening  we  ascend- 
ed a  flight  of  steps  to  a  path  which  led  to  the  sum- 
mit of  a  hill,  near  Jagermeyer's  Garden,  from 
whence  a  prospect  of  surpassing  beauty  is  obtained  ; 
you  see  the  snow-clad  chain  of  the  Saltzburg  and 
Styrian  Alps,  stretching  southward  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  reach — the  sluggish  Danube  making  many 
beauteous  curves,  and  at  some  distance  rolling 
through  a  narrow  gorge  as  it  approaches  the  city — 
while  the  town,  the  round  towers  of  the  fortifica- 
tions, the  citadel,  and  the  church,  lie  at  your  feet. 
We  spent  the  Sabbath  there,  and  witnessed  the  de- 
basing mummeries  of  Popery  in  the  church.  May 
these. buildings,  now  thronged  wilh  the  ignorant  and 


180 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


superstitious,  ere  long  be  crowded  with  listeners  to 
the  glorious  gospel  of  salvation!  Early  in  the 
morning  the  streets  were  filled  with  old  and  young, 
flocking  to  their  churches,  shaming  not  a  little  those 
who  cannot  attend  an  early  prayer-meeting !  I 
spent  a  very  happy  hour  in  the  evening  in  commu- 
nion with  my  unchanging  Friend. 

"  Monday  at  six  o'clock,  we  started  for  lovely 
Gmiinden,  by  a  horse  railroad,  and  when  we  had 
travelled  about  three-quarters  of  the  way,  left  the 
conveyance,  to  walk  half  a  mile  and  see  the  falls 
of  the  river  Traun.    They  are  forty-two  feet  in 


the  most  picturesque  in  Europe.  The  great  fall  is 
most  overpowering  in  its  appearance ;  a  body  of 
foam  whose  spray  soon  makes  the  traveller  tolera- 
bly wet,  even  on  the  bridge  above,  adds  greatly  to 
the  beauty  of  the  scene.  Its  pale  green  waters 
contrasted  with  the  dark  green  mountains  around 
it ;  the  raging  of  the  agitated  stream  on  the  fall 
side  of  the  bridge,  and  the  solemn  stillness  with 
which  it  passes  to  the  other  side,  would  form  a 
charming  theme  for  a  poet.  Suddenly  the  tower- 
ing Traunstein  appeared,  rising  above  the  clouds 
from  the  long  valley  of  the  Traun  ;  then  the  mag- 
nificent lake  of  Gmiinden,  burst  upon  us,  surround- 
ed with  mountains  of  every  hue  and  form.  Some 
say  it  exceeds  the  Italian  lakes,  in  scenery.  Our 
room  at  the  Goldene  SchifT  faces  the  lake,  and  com- 
mands a  splendid  view.  Beneath  our  windows  is 
a  lively  scene,  it  is  corn-market  day,  and  in  addi- 
tion, the  Queen  of  Saxony,  Archduke  and  Duchess 
Charles  and  their  suite  are  hourly  expected.  They 
are  to  breakfast  at  a  house  close  by  us,  which  is 
beautifully  decorated  for  the  occasion,  with  gar- 
lands and  flowers.    They  have  just  arrived,  and 


depth,  dashing  over 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  ]  SI 

we  are  to  accompany  them  across  the  lake  to  Eben- 
see,  on  their  way  to  Ischl.  The  steamer  which  is 
to  convey  them  is  an  English  speculation,  with  an 
English  captain." 

"  August  Sth. — We  had  a  delectahle  sail  across 
the  lake ;  the  boat  was  decorated  with  flowei  s, 
wreaths,  and  flags  in  honor  of  the  royal  party,  con- 
sisting of  the  Queen  of  Saxony,  the  Archduke 
Charles  and  his  Duchess,  twin-sister  of  the  Queen, 
two  chamberlains,  and  two  maids  of  honor.  An 
awning  was  placed  over  two  tables,  at  one  the 
royal  party  sat,  we  at  the  other,  with  four  English. 
Guns  saluted  them  in  different  parts,  producing  an 
enchanting  echo  ;  and  some  girls  in  a  boat  serenaded 
them  with  songs  sweetly  sung.  Every  quarter  of 
a  mile  brought  us  to  fir^r  scenery.  At  Ebensee, 
guns  and  a  band  awaited  the  party,  the  pleasures 
produced  for  them  gratifying  us  equally,  perhaps, 
more  so.  After  examining  a  salt-house,  we  took  a 
carriage  for  Ischl.  A  Catholic  who  was  an  astro- 
nomical professor  and  pasteur,  asked  permission  to 
join  us ;  he  was  a  very  interesting  person,  anxious 
to  learn  English,  to  whom  we  uttered  a  word  about 
our  Master.  The  road  increased  in  beauty  and  in- 
terest as  we  advanced — smiling  valleys — bare 
masses  of  rugged  rock — mountains  ornamented 
with  trees  to  their  summits,  and  the  rolling  Traun 
fheered  us  for  many  miles.  At  last  Ischl  burst 
upon  us,  in  the  distance,  like  a  little  white  speck  in 
the  landscape.  It  has  been  converted  from  an  in- 
significant village  into  a  fashionable  watering- 
place.  The  beauty  of  its  situation  can  scarcely  be 
surpassed.  A  circuitous  path  over  some  hills  led 
us  to  a  most  romantic  walk ;  there,  in  the  distance 
were  lofty  mountains  covered  with  eternal  snows — 
here  the  richly  cultivated  valley  with  its  undulating 


182 


THE  pastor's  wife;  OK 


surface,  and  the  Traun  winding  its  silvery  waters ; 
over  one  pointed  mountain  the  lunar  crescent  was 
rising — over  another  Venus  was  peeping,  and  seemed 
to  invite  the  comparison  between  her  own  brilliant 
beauty,  and  that  of  the  dark  mountains  above  which 
she  appeared.  The  little  chapels  in  various  lovely 
spots,  reminded  us  that  such  scenes  demanded  de- 
votional feelings — oh  !  to  be  able  from  these  great 
works  of  the  Creator's  hands  to  regard  His  yet 
greater  work  of  Redemption!  -We  returned  from 
our  lovely  walk  while  the  bells  were  calling  to  ves- 
pers. The  Casino  was  decorateil  with  boughs  and 
variegated  lamps,  formed  by  placing  colored  paper, 
pricked  with  different  patterns,  round  candles;  the 
promenade  was  similarly  illuminated,  in  honor  of 
the  royal  party. 

"  Royalty  having  attracted  a  great  number  of 
visitors,  most  of  the  carriages  were  hired,  and  we 
were  told  at  our  hotel  that  not  one  was  to  be  had 
to  convey  us  to  Hallstadt.  Almost  in  despair  of 
seeing  that  lovely  place,  of  which  we  had  read  so 
much,  we  inquired  at  a  little  shop,  where  I  took 
my  parasol  to  be  mended,  whether  it  was  possible 
to  procure  a  conveyance.  '  O  yes,'  said  the  man, 
'  if  you  do  not  want  a  gay  one — if  such  an  one  as 
that  will  do,  (pointing  to  a  basket  carriage,  with  a 
seat  for  two,  and  room  for  a  portion  of  luggage  be- 
hind,) I  will  manage  to  get  you  one.'  This,  though 
an  unsightly,  was  really  a  comfortable  carriage,  and 
just  adapted  for  the  narrow  and  rough  roads  of  the 
Salzkammergut,  through  which  we  were  about  to 
travel.  He  asked  no  more  than  eight  shillings  a 
day,  for  carriage,  horse,  and  man,  which  we  cheer- 
fully agreed  to  give.  The  driver,  a  very  civil 
creature,  was  seated  on  the  apron  at  our  feet.  He 
wore  a  green  silk  Tyrolese  hat,  ornamented  with 


MEMOIR   OK  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


1S3 


green  satin  ribbon,  and  a  bunch  of  living  flowers — 
a  black  silk  cap  beneath  it,  with  a  very  long  tail 
and  tassel,  which  hung  down  behin(^  and  seemed 
designed  for  a  bell-pull.  The  other  parts  of  his 
dress  were  similar  to  the  Tyrolese.  We  drove  the 
first  evening  to  the  Grundel  See,  a  very  beautiful 
lake,  but  not  equal  to  Gmiinden — and  put  up  at 
Aussee  for  the  night.  Our  coachman  was  evidently 
the  worse  for  the  beer  he  had  drunk.  My  dear 
husband  the  next  morning  gave  him  a  gentle  re- 
proof, which  the  poor  man  evidently  felt,  thanked 
him  for  it,  and  we  had  no  more  reason  to  complain. 
His  astonishment,  when  we  assured  him  that  we 
had  not  touched  intoxicating  drink  for  nine  or  ten 
years,  was  unbounded,  and  till  he  inquired  at  the 
hotels  if  we  took  wine,  (as  he  told  us  at  the  close 
of  our  journey,)  he  would  not  believe  us.  He  pro- 
mised to  try  to  do  without  it.  We  gave  him  some 
German  tracts  which  he  read  at  intervals  on  our 
journey,  and  seemed  impressed  with  a  clearer  view 
of  salvation  by  Christ  than  he  previously  possessed. 
May  God  own  the  effort. 

"  At  five,  we  started  for  Hallstadt,  and  drove 
through  a  picturesque  country,  to  Gosau  Miihl,  on 
the  borders  of  its  lake.  Near  this  spot  is  an  aque- 
duct, which  unites  two  mountains,  and  conveys  the 
salt  from  the  mine  at  Ebensee  to  Rosenheim,  near 
Vienna,  a  distance  of  fifty-six  miles — after  a  walk 
of  great  beauty  along  it,  we  returned  to  the  lake. 
To  our  surprise,  we  found  the  village  was  accessible 
only  by  boats — the  one  into  which  we  entered  was 
the  trunk  of  a  long  tree  hollowed  out,  and  though 
we  questioned  its  safety,  it  glided  deliciously  over 
the  dark  and  deep  waters.  Never  can  I  forget  this 
wonderful  scene — the  mountains  seemed  quite  per- 
pendicular, and  as  we  approached  the  village,  be- 


184 


THE  pastor's  wii  e;  or 


came  higher  and  closer.  From  the  15th  of  Novem- 
ber to  the  2d  of  February,  the  sun  is  never  seen  by 
the  inhabitants.  Clouds  at  times  covered  the  lake, 
which  added  much  to  its  beauty,  and  to  our  interest. 
The  cottages  seem  attached  to  the  rocks  like  swal- 
lows' nests,  either  built  upon  piers  over  the  water, 
or  piled  in  tiers  one  above  another,  so  that  the 
chimney  of  one  house  is  on  a  level  with  the  threshold 
of  another,  and  their  inhabitants  pass  from  house  to 
house  by  steps  cut  in  the  stone,  instead  of  streets 
and  lanes. 

"  From  Hallstadt,  we  proceeded  through  a  nar- 
row and  picturesque  glen,  by  a  lovely  mountain 
pass,  to  Gosau,  Avhere  splendid  scenery  awaited  us. 
Its  fruitful  valley  and  pretty  village  terminate  Avith 
the  glaciers  and  aiguilles  of  the  Dachstein,  the 
highest  of  which  exceed  10,000  feet,  and  are  em- 
bedded in  snow  and  ice.  While  our  horse  rested, 
we  hired  a  car — such  a  jolting  one — and  drove  to 
its  base,  understanding  that  from  thence  we  should 
obtain  the  finest  view  of  the  whole  Salzkammergut, 
but  we  found  this  could  only  be  had  by  climbing 
some  thousand  feet  of  the  mountain,  for  which  we 
had  neither  time  nor  strength ;  the  drive,  however, 
amply  repaid  us.  Additional  interest  was  given  to 
the  beauties  of  the  spot,  by  the  fact,  that  out  of  a 
population  of  1400  souls,  1200  of  them  are  Pro- 
testants, who  have  preserved  their  faith  and  inde- 
pendence, notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  and  per- 
secutions of  the  Jesuits  to  drive  them  out.  At  last 
the  Austrian  Government  was  obliged  to  give  them 
a  place  of  worship.  As  sympathy  is  a  language 
well  understood,  where  German  is  unknoAvn,  we 
determined,  on  our  return,  to  pay  our  respects  to 
the  pastor.  We  knocked  at  a  door  which  opened 
into  a  large  room,  where  a  number  of  children  of 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


185 


both  sexes  were  assembled  for  school ;  it  was 
opened  by  an  old  man  of  benevolent  countenance, 
whom  we  took  for  the  minister.  He  soon  directed 
us  to  the  individual  we  sought,  and  his  wife,  a  most 
interesting  young  couple.  Our  imperfect,  and  their 
good  German,  enabled  us  to  spend  a  very  happy 
half  hour  with  them.  They  knew  our  old  friend. 
Dr.  Steinkopff,  and  several  devoted  laborers  in 
Christ's  vineyard,  and  took  deep  interest  in  the 
progress  of  the  gospel.  In  such  a  secluded  posi- 
tion, few  visits  are  paid  them,  and  ours  seemed  to 
be  most  gratefully  acknowledged.  At  what  a 
snqall  sacrifice  can  we  often  comfort  and  rejoice 
others. 

"  Much  pleased  with  our  visit,  we  started  again 
for  Abtenau,  over  a  lovely  but  most  fatiguing 
mountain  pass.  In  many  places,  the  road  was 
formed  by  laying  down  small  fir-trees — rather  a 
jolting  arrangement.  We  walked  the  greater  part 
of  the  way  up  hill,  to  please  the  horse — down  hill, 
to  please  ourselves.  At  last  we  reached  the  hotel, 
where  we  almost  lost  our  patience  with  the  stu- 
pidity of  the  Kammermadchen,  who  fetched  every 
article  singly  when  we  were  anxious  to  go  to  bed ; 
but  it  is  well  to  have  patience  exercised  occa- 
sionally. 

"At  five  in  the  morning,  12th  of  August,  with  a 
dewy,  cloudy  atmosphere,  we  proceeded  to  Gol- 
ling,  a  lovely  village,  with  a  most  splendid  and  ele- 
gant waterfall.  The  fall  is  300  feet ;  it  is  said  to 
originate  in  the  Konigssee,  which  by  road  is  distant 
thirty  miles,  and  find^  its  way  under  the  mountains 
to  this  spot ;  others  say  it  rises  in  the  cavern, 
whence  it  issues  with  such  power  as  to  make  for 
itself  two  natural  bridges  in  the  rock.  It  falls  from 
the  cavern  straight  down  in  one  huge  stream,  from 
16* 


186 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE ;  OR 


thence  over  the  rocks,  which  are  covered  wnth  deep 
green  moss,  and  forms  an  amphitheatre  of  hundreds 
of  single  pipe-like  droppings,  besides  two  broad 
falls  in  the  form  of  drapery.  We  hardly  knew  how  to 
leave  this  enchanting  spot.  About  eleven  we  start- 
ed for  Hallein,  which  we  reached  about  one,  and 
set  off  immediately  to  the  salt  mine.  Two  im- 
mense horses,  like  our  dray-horses,  attached  to  a 
light  chaise,  drew  us  up  the  mountain  to  the  en- 
trance of  the  mine.  My  husband  was  introduced 
by  a  man  into  one  dressing-room,  and  I  by  a  woman 
into  another,  where  I  was  quickly  bedecked  WMth  a 
pair  of  strong  white  trousers  tied  round  the  ankle,  a 
jacket,  a  sort  of  leather  apron  behind,  and  a  cloth  cap. 
I  could  scarcely  stand  for  laughing.  Thus  attired  1 
was  led  by  my  guide  into  a  room  full  of  men,  among 
whom  stood  my  unrecognized  husband.  He  spoke  to 
me  before  I  knew  him.  He  and  the  guide  were  pro- 
vided with  candles,  and  a  thick  glove  to  resist  the 
friction  of  the  rope  by  w^hich  we  had  occasionally 
to  descend.  We  walked  in  solemn  order  through 
the  narrow,  cold,  dark  galleries,  or  rather  passages 
of  the  mine,  occasionally  stopping  to  look  at  the 
salt  walls,  some  red,  others  white,  and  some  in 
strata,  like  red  and  white  marble.  It  seemed  a 
novel  thing  to  take  a  piece  out  of  a  wall  and  put  it 
to  the  tongue,  but  so  we  did.  After  walking  thus 
for  a  very  long  time,  we  came  to  the  first  shaft,  a 
descent  almost  perpendicular  of  350  feet,  consisting 
of  two  narrow  smooth  pieces  of  wood,  very  mucli 
like  the  ladders  to  our  brewers'  drays,  and  a  strong 
rope  fixed  from  the  top  to  the  bottom.  The  man 
sat  down  on  the  wood  with  the  rope  under  his  arm, 
and  told  me  to  sit  behind  him,  with  my  arms  tight 
round  his  neck  and  a  leg  on  each  side  of  him,  my 
husband  behind,  not  attached  to  me.    Thus,  with 


MEMOIR  01-  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


187 


candle  in  hand,  we  rapidly  descended  in  a  minute 
and  a  half.  At  the  second  shaft,  about  800  feet, 
my  horse  proceeded  a  little  too  fast  for  my  dear 
husband.  He  saw  our  light  so  frightfully  portray- 
ing the  precipice  and  its  depth,  that  his  confidence 
forsook  him,  and  he  could  not  follow.  He  called 
aloud,  but  we  heard  not.  When  we  arrived  at  the 
bottom  ray  guide  gave  me  his  candle,  while  he  went 
in  search  of  him.  He  soon  descended  with  him, 
riding  in  the  same  style  as  I  had  done.  We  then 
came  to  a  lake,  forty  feet  long  by  thirty  wide,  and 
very  deep,  illuminated  by  two  hundred  candles, 
which,  of  course,  reflected  double,  and  entering  a 
boat  were  ferried  across  it.  The  sensation  while 
crossing  this  illuminated  cavern  was  perfectly  inde- 
scribable ;  the  little  splash  of  the  oar  on  the  unrip- 
pled  surface  was  the  only  noise  heard,  and  though 
not  superstitious,  I  was  glad  to  get  out  of  it. 

"  After  a  continuation  of  the  same  cold,  solemn 
walk,  interrupted  only  by  an  occasional  miner  dig- 
ging out  the  precious  treasure,  or  the  passage  of 
others  with  barrows  wheeling  it  to  the  water,  in 
which  it  is  conveyed  to  the  boiling  and  drying 
houses,  we  came  to  the  bottom  of  the  mine,  where 
a  new  method  of  accelerating  progress  awaited  us. 
We  rode  astride  a  sort  of  wooden  horse,  which  runs 
on  a  tramway — with  our  candles  in  hand — one  man 
drawing,  and  others  pushing,  at  a  swift  pace,  for 
about  twenty  minutes.  The  first  glimpse  of  light 
from  a  great  distance  was  singularly  beautiful.  The 
entrance  to  the  mine  appeared  about  the  size  of  the 
smallest  star,  and  gradually  increased  till  we  saw 
it  twelve  feet  high.  The  point  at  which  we  emerged 
from  it  was  so  low  in  the  valley,  that  we  had  to 
walk  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  hotel,  where 
we  eagerly  despatched  what  was  set  before  us. 


188 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


As  soon  as  we  had  dined,  we  started  for  Salzburg, 
through  scenery  by  no  means  so  interesting  as  be- 
fore. The  old  castle  built  by  Archbishop  Paris, 
and  the  scene  of  many  conflicts,  was  a  prominent 
object  for  a  long  distance ;  and  for  three  miles 
we  drove  through  an  avenue  of  beautiful  trees, 
which  terminate  only  at  the  entrance  to  the  town 
itself. 

"  The  ancient  town  of  Salzburg  is  dull  and  de- 
serted— the  grass  grows  in  the  streets,  and  consi- 
dering its  population,  above  12,000  inhabitants, 
does  not  impress  you  with  activity  or  industry. 
The  castle  was  once  the  residence  of  the  kingly 
archbishops,  whose  territory  included  a  population 
of  200,000  souls.  Here  w^e  saw  the  torhire  cham- 
6er,  where  political  offenders,  and  especially  the  poor 
Protestants,  were  raised  by  a  rack  to  the  roof,  and 
then,  with  weights  attached  to  their  feet,  suffered 
to  fall  through  a  trap-door,  to  a  more  horrible  dun- 
geon, into  the  arms  of  an  iron  figure,  which,  moved 
by  machinery,  either  crushed  or  killed  them  at  once. 
From  the  year  1327  to  1332,  as  many  as  30,000 
Protestants  were  banished  from  their  native  land. 
The  prospect  from  the  tower  of  the  Castle  is  superb. 
As  we  were  passing  the  Cathedral  last  Sunday,  we 
saw  the  people  arranged  in  file  at  the  door  and  in 
the  aisle,  and  supposed  something  extraordinary 
was  expected.  In  a  few  moments  the  Archbishop 
appeared,  preceded  by  priests  in  gorgeous  dresses, 
carrying  banners,  &c.  As  soon  as  he  entered,  the 
people  fell  on  their  knees  to  receive  his  blessing. 
He  dipped  his  fingers  first  in  the  holy  water, 
and  sprinkled  it  around.  As  he  walked  in  solemn 
state  up  the  aisle,  he  stretched  out  his  hands  from 
side  to  side  very  gracefully,  and  dispensed  his 
blessing.    His  clothing  was  entirely  of  scarlet,  and 


MEMOIR  OK  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


189 


two  priests  bore  his  train.  Four  bishops  and  many- 
priests  followed.  He  was  welcomed  with  trumpets 
and  drums;  when  he  reached  the  centre  of  the 
Cathedral,  he  knelt  on  a  crimson  cushion  prepared 
for  him,  and  crossed  himself.  He  then  proceeded 
to  his  throne,  where  the  operation  of  undressing 
and  dressing  him  took  place ;  and  really,  any  fine 
lady  might  have  been  pleased  with  the  abundance 
of  cambric,  and  deep  rich  lace  which  decorated  him. 
His  mitre  was  put  on  and  taken  off,  I  know  not 
how  many  times.  The  bishops  were  very  beauti- 
fully attired — the  same  exchange  of  mitres  took 
place  with  them.  The  young  priests  who  waited 
on  them,  gave  the  impression  of  the  most  abject 
state  of  mind — they  appeared  like  so  many  school- 
boys, who  dreaded  the  rod  if  they  made  a  mistake. 
I  was  struck  too  with  the  want  of  cheerfulness  in 
their  countenances,  and  with  the  slavish  aspect  of 
every  feature.  The  music  and  singing,  with  occa- 
sionally the  chanting  of  a  few  words  by  the  digni- 
taries, constituted  all  the  audible  worship :  waving 
incense,  bowing  first  to  the  altar,  then  to  the  bishop, 
and  marching  to  three  pictures,  all  the  visible  wor- 
ship. The  procession  returned  as  it  entered.  Oh, 
what  awful  mockery !  surely  heathenism  is  better. 
The  sight  itself  as  a  mere  pageant  was  extremely 
beautiful,  but  worship — there  was  no  worship  of 
God.  The  Archbishop  appears  a  very  intelligent 
and  interesting  man.  He  is  the  bosom  friend  of 
Count  P.,  our  friend  and  fellow  lodger  at  Grafen- 
berg,  who  gave  us  much  of  his  interesting  history 
and  character.  How  can  men  of  intelligence  lend 
their  powers  to  such  a  system  of  deception  and  ini- 
quity! In  the  castle  we  met  an  interesting  youth, 
Mr.  P.,  a  native  of  Cologne,  who  spoke  a  little 
English,  and  was  travelling  for  his  health.  We 


190  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

were  mutually  interested,  and  he  wished  to  accom- 
pany us  three  days'  journey. 

First  day,  August  15th. — "  We  breakfasted  at 
the  Konigssee,  and  went  to  the  end  of  the  lake  in 
a  trunk  of  a  tree,  hollowed  out  for  a  boat,  with 
pieces  of  wood  laid  across  for  seats ;  amber,  blue 
and  green  alternately  predominated  in  these  lovely 
waters.  Smooth  as  they  were  to  us,  they  once  en- 
gulfed and  entombed  seventy  persons,  whom  a  sud- 
den storm  drove  on  the  rocks.  A  cross  indicates 
the  spot.  May  the  Savior  so  humbly  represented 
on  it,  be  found  to  have  immortalized  them,  in  a 
better  way,  by  applying  his  precious  blood  for  their 
redemption,  and  thus  giving  them  eternal  life.  The 
scenery  of  this  lake  is  remarkably  sublime,  from 
the  immense  height  of  the  mountains  and  their  ab- 
rupt perpendicular  form.  We  afterwards  went  to 
Berchtesgardan,  where  we  partook  of  an  excellent 
dinner  of  the  trout  of  the  Konigssee  and  the  cha- 
mois venison  of  the  surrounding  Alps.  Hither  the 
King  of  Bavaria  comes  every  year  to  enjoy  the 
sport  of  hunting  these  timid  and  beautiful  animals, 
this  mountain  district  being  their  favorite  resort. 
We  proceeded  to  Reichenhall,  and  slept  at  a  ro- 
mantic inn,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  town. 
From  Reichenhall  the  scenery  is  very  beautiful,  but 
from  Unken  to  Waidringen  it  becomes  wild  and 
grand  beyond  description.  At  Lofer  the  valley 
contracts — the  mountains  come  closer  together — 
in  many  parts  the  road  is  cut  through  the  rock,  till 
you  arrive  at  a  narrow  defile,  called  Pass  Strubb, 
which  is  the  entrance  to  the  Tyrol  from  Salzburg, 
and  was  formerly  guarded  by  a  tower  and  an  arch- 
way. Here  a  painter  might  find  plenty  of  fine  sub 
jects,  but  they  are  too  numerous  to  crowd  into  any 
one  canvas. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


19] 


"  On  the  16th,  we  arrived  at  St.  Johann,  and 
pushed  on  to  Soli  to  sleep,  where  an  interesting  in- 
cident occurred.  We  had  left  the  hotel,  for  a  walk 
to  a  little  chapel  at  the  summit  of  a  small  conical 
hill,  which  commanded  a  most  extensive  and  re- 
markable prospect.  As  we  approached  the  hotel 
the  sound  of  voices  in  prayer,  repeating  a  Litany, 
saluted  our  ear.  A  Tyrolese  dog  met  us  at  the 
door,  and  seemed  to  invite  us  into  a  large  room, 
where  were  seen  on  their  knees  about  thirty  per- 
sons, consisting  of  the  master,  mistress  and  servants 
of  the  house,  with  the  laborers  who  had  returned 
from  their  harvest  work.  One  of  them  was  lead- 
ing the  devotion,  and  all  repeated  after  him.  A 
maid  arose,  came  to  us,  asked  if  we  required  any 
thing  she  could  get  for  us,  and  on  our  answering 
no,  she  returned  and  resumed  her  position.  Even 
the  large  dogs  appeared  accustomed  to  the  service, 
and  took  their  place  and  attitude  with  the  servants. 
When  prayer  ceased  every  one  remained  in  silence 
about  two  minutes,  then  crossing  themselves  they 
arose  and  commenced  their  suppers.  We  could  not 
but  hope  that  even  here,  where  the  Bible  is  little 
known,  and  the  light  of  the  precious  gospel  dark- 
ened by  superstitious  ceremonies,  God  has  his  secret 
ones  who  hold  communion  ^vith  him.  Throughout 
the  Tyrol  there  is  more  devotion  and  greater  inde- 
pendence of  character  than  in  any  of  the  Catholic 
countries  we  have  seen.  May  Jesus  Christ  soon 
visit  that  glorious  land  with  the  light  of  life. 

"  On  the  17th,  we  passed  through  Worgel, 
Schwatz,  and  Hall  to  Innsbruck,  the  capital  of  the 
Tyrol.  The  situation  is  unique.  Mountains  some 
of  which  are  8000  feet  high,  surround  the  town, 
and  seem  to  overhang  it.  The  view  from  the 
bridge  which  crosses  the  river  Inn  (from  both  of 


192 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


which  the  town  takes  its  name,)  embraces  the  fer- 
tile valley — the  lofty  mountains — the  picturesque 
town,  and  the  celebrated  Martinswand,  and  pre- 
sents an  assemblage  of  beauties  which,  it  is  said,  no 
other  town  in  Europe  can  rival.  Certainly  it  is 
superbly  grand. 

"  The  Franciscan  church  was  an  object  of  great 
interest  to  us.  It  contains  the  tomb  of  Maximilian 
I.,  who  spent  large  sums  of  money  in  its  erection, 
yet  was  not  permitted  to  rest  there.  The  rich 
marble  sarcophagus  stands  in  the  centre  of  the 
church,  and  supports  the  figure  of  Maximilian, 
kneeling  with  his  fiice  towards  the  altar.  It  has 
twenty-four  bas-reliefs,  about  twenty-four  inches 
by  eighteen,  set  in  its  sides,  scidptured  in  Carrara 
marble,  as  carefully  finished  and  as  beautiful  as  the 
carving  of  an  Italian  cameo.  The  grouping  of  the 
figures  is  very  skillful,  and  the  splendor  of  the  an- 
cient costume  is  exhibited  with  wonderful  effect. 
They  represent  the  principal  events  of  the  monarch's 
life.  Those  marked  No.  9,  representing  his  victory 
over  the  Turks  in  Croatia,  and  No.  12,  the  mar- 
riage of  his  son  Philip  with  Joanna  of  Aragon — 
are  masterpieces.  The  sarcophagus  is  guarded  by 
twenty-eight  figures,  in  bronze,  of  colossal  size, 
fourteen  ranging  on  the  side  of  each  aisle,  repre- 
senting the  most  ilistinguished  persons  of  his  time, 
and  dressed  in  the  armor  and  costume  of  the  six- 
teenth century.  They  present  a  most  imposing 
historical  spectacle,  and  for  their  elaborate  work- 
manship take  a  high  place  in  the  school  of  art. 

"  At  the  table  d'hote  we  were  recognized  by  the 
Rev.  F.  C.  and  his  friend,  a  nephew  of  the  Marquis 
of  C,  who  invited  us  to  join  them  in  our  journey 
into  Switzerland.  We  agreed  to  meet  at  Feld- 
kirch.    Our  road  over  the  pass  of  the  Arlberg,  made 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


193 


by  Joseph  II.,  was  the  most  awfully  sublime  I  ever 
saw,  especially  from  Landek.  For  two  hours  and 
a  half  we  were  ascending,  till  we  were  many  thou- 
sand feet  above  the  river,  whose  roaring  sounded 
inexpressibly  solemn  among  the  rocks  and  moun- 
tains below.  Tall  glaciers,  foaming  waterfalls,  and 
the  marks  of  the  tremendous  mountain  torrents, 
which  are  continually  occurring,  meet  the  eye  on 
every  side.  Two  carriages  can  occasionally  pass, 
but  generally  there  is  only  room  for  one  between 
the  perpendicular  or  projecting  cliffs  and  the  preci- 
pice below  :  broad  stones  are  placed  here  and  there, 
to  prevent  liability  to  fall  over.  When  we  began 
to  descend,  two  wheels  were  locked,  and  we  rat- 
tled down  the  dechvity  at  railway  pace.  The  con- 
tinual serpentine  road  down  the  mountain  threat- 
ened, in  my  timid  mind,  our  over  balancing  at  every 
turn,  and  dashing  into  the  torrents  below.  I  am 
told  that  this  is  nothing  to  what  I  must  witness  in 
Switzerland.  In  the  midst  of  our  rapid  descent, 
we  were  arrested  by  seeing  one  of  the  wheels  of  a 
companion-carriage  lying  in  the  road,  and  three 
wheels  supporting  it  at  some  distance  further ;  hap- 
pily it  was  not  overturned.  Four  fat  travellers 
stood  by,  looking  unutterable  things.  When  I  saw 
that  no  harm  was  done,  I  really  felt  relieved  that 
we  were  stopped,  and  had  time  to  pluck  up  a  little 
courage  before  we  proceeded.  All  set  to  work  to 
repair  the  vehicle,  but  we  were  detained  nearly 
three  hours. 

"  Some  distance  from  the  spot  where  the  accident 
happened,  lived  a  peasant  who  had  often  seen  on 
the  mountains  the  bodies  of  those  who  had  perished 
in  the  snow,  partly  devoured  by  birds  of  prey.  He 
determined  with  his  little  earnings  to  erect  a  place 
of  shelter  for  the  traveller.  By  the  help  of  God 
17 


194 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


and  St.  Christopher,  as  he  said,  he  completed  it, 
and  procured  the  assistance  of  many  princes  to  sup- 
port it  when  finished.  He  had  the  happiness,  be- 
fore his  death,  of  thus  being  the  means  of  saving 
and  sheltering  in  his  Hospice,  at  least  fifty  persons, 
who  had  nearly  lost  their  lives  when  discovered.  I 
was  reminded  of  the  eternal  shelter  in  Immanuel 
from  everlasting  destruction. 

"  We  reached  Feldkirch  about  three  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  found  the  only  good  hotel  quite  full.  We 
were  compelled,  at  this  unseasonable  hour,  to  seek 
shelter  at  a  filthy  inn,  where  the  half-asleep  cham- 
bermaid was  long  in  preparing  our  dirty  room  to 
receive  us.  In  the  morning  we  removed  to  the 
hotel,  some  parties  having  vacated  their  apartments 
since  our  arrival.  Mr.  C.  and  Mr.  L.  arrived  late 
on  Saturday  evening.  The  head-dress  of  the  women 
is  singular  and  amusing — a  sort  of  helmet  of  gold 
and  black  wire — with  a  frill  round  the  neck  like  a 
target,  without  any  approach  to  taste  or  elegance. 
In  this  gloomy,  sleepy  town  we  passed  the  Sab- 
bath :  the  Rev.  Mr.  C.  read  the  Litany,  and  my  dear 
husband  gave  a  little  address  from  '  Unto  you  "there- 
fore which  believe  He  is  precious,'  Mr.  C.  evidently 
deeply  interested .  Before  our  Uttle  service,  we  went 
to  the  principal  church,  but  the  congregation  was 
so  large,  we  could  not  reach  even  the  doors.  In 
the  afternoon  we  took  a  lovely  walk  together  in 
the  woods,  and  came  down  a  precipitous  way  to 
the  valley.  We  'talked  of  the  things  which  hap- 
pened at  Jerusalem,' — on  the  dangers  of  travelling 
excitement,  in  drawing  away  the  heart  from  spirit- 
ual objects,  and  on  the  necessity  of  a  spirit  of 
greater  dependence  and  prayer.  It  was  truly  a 
profitable  conversation. 

"  On  Monday  morning  we  started,  with  our  good 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


195 


companions,  for  the  vale  of  Thusis,  through  Ragaz, 
in  a  curious  carriage,  to  the  baths  of  PfefTers,  a 
most  remarkable,  and  till  last  year,  an  almost  in- 
accessible place.  It  is  supposed  that  the  little  river 
Tafnina,  which  rises  in  a  neighboring  glacier,  and 
falls  over  rocks  here,  has,  in  the  course  of  centuries 
by  its  simple  force,  worn  the  rocks  away,  and  made 
a  channel  for  itself,  in  some  places  600  feet  deep 
but  only  a  few  feet  across.  A  huntsman,  in  pur- 
suit of  a  chamois,  was  surprised  to  observe  steam 
issuing  from  this  narrow  defile,  and  on  tracing  it  dis- 
covered a  hot  spring  in  this  cold  spot.  The  monks 
of  an  adjoining  Franciscan  monastery  took  advan- 
tage of  the  circumstance  so  accidentally  discover- 
ed, and  erected  miserable  places  which  they  called 
baths,  for  the  sick,  who  were  let  down  from  the 
summit  in  a  basket,  by  ropes  and  pullies.  The 
monastery  has  been  dissolved,  and  the  baths  have 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  5.ome  persons  who  have 
made  a  road  to  them  by  blasting  the  rocks.  We 
went,  expecting  to  descend  in  some  awful  manner, 
but  were  not  a  little  delighted  to  find  that  this  ac- 
commodating mode  of  access  had  been  very  recently 
accomplished.  Our  guide  led  us  to  the  entrance 
of  the  ravine  of  the  Tamiiii,  the  sides  of  which,  at 
some  places,  approach  each  other  within  a  few  feet, 
and  further  up  entirely  close,  so  that  the  river  ap- 
pears to  flow  out  of  a  chasm  in  a  cavern.  A  shelf 
of  two  planks,  and  in  some  places  of  only  one,  sup- 
ported by  niches  cut  in  the  perpendicular  rock,  or 
hy  iron  rods,  with  a  frail  handrail,  is  the  only  path- 
way for  a  distance  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile — 
some  hundred  feet  above  your  head  the  rocks  over- 
hang, and  form  a  vaulted  roof,  separated  only  by 
a  few  inches,  which  let  in  the  light  of  heaven, 
threatening  every  instant  to  crush  you — forty  feet 


196 


THE  pastok's  wife;  or 


beneath,  the  roaring  torrent  rushes  with  tremendous 
fury — the  planks  on  which  you  tread  tremble  at 
every  step,  the  cold,  chilly  atmosphere  makes  your 
very  flesh  quiver,  and  the  whole  scene  gives  an  im- 
pression of  horror  and  danger  such  as  I  never^x- 
perienced.  We  tasted  the  water  at  the  fountain, 
Avhich  was  little  more  than  tepid,  but  so  much  heat 
and  steam  came  from  the  spring  that  w^e  were  glad 
to  retire  from  it  to  the  cold  chasm  through  which 
we  had  passed,  and  return  to  the  bath-house,  It 
is  not  nicely  fitted  up.  Englishmen  who  look  for 
comfort  will  scarcely  find  it  in  this  solitary  den. 
One  night's  rest,  or  a  noontide  visit  like  ours,  will 
quite  satisfy  them.  Yet  no  one  who  passes  near 
should  omit  to  see  Pfeffers,  which  certainly  is  one 
of  the  most  extraordinary  places  in  Europe.  An 
author  somewhere  says,  '  it  is  one  of  the  very  few 
spots  I  have  seen  where  no  disappointment  can 
arise  from  previous  description.'  We  returned  to 
Ragaz  to  dinner,  after  which  we  started  with  three 
horses  to  Coire,  the  capital  of  the  Grisons,  in  which 
canton  the  Romansch  language,  a  vile  corruption 
of  the  Latin,  is  spoken.  The  town  has  nothing 
extraordinary  to  note,  except  that  Ave  found  com- 
fortable sleeping  quarters  at  the  Weisscs  Kreutz. 

"In  the  morning  we  started  for  the  Via  Mala, 
and  passed  the  house  of  Reichenau,  where  Louis 
Philippe,  the  present  King  of  the  French,  became 
teacher  of  history,  mathematics,  and  French,  in  the 
school  of  M.  Jost.  What  a  marvellous  change  I 
The  valley  of  the  Rhine,  from  Reichenau,  abounds 
in  castles,  which  cover  almost  every  rock,  and  ex- 
hibits sad  proof  of  the  ravages  of  the  torrent  Nolla, 
which  rises  in  one  of  the  mountains,  and  pours  its 
waters  into  the  Rhine.  After  heavj  rain,  it  rushes 
down,  carrying  rocks,  trees,  and  every  thing  in  its 


4 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


197 


course,  producing  desolating  inundations.  Above 
Thusis  commences  the  Via  Mala,  which  extends 
about  four  miles,  and  for  sublimity  and  grandeur  is 
considered  superior  to  any  defile  in  Switzerland.  I 
heUBve  any  human  description  would  fall  short  of 
its  wonders ;  it  must  be  seen  to  be  understood. 
Conceive  precipices  rising  on  each  side  the  roaring 
torrent,  in  several  places  not  less  than  fifteen  hun- 
dred feet  high,  nor  more  than  thirty  feet  apart — 
near  the  middle  bridge,  the  rocks  on  one  side  over- 
hang those  on  the  other — as  you  look  over  the 
bridge,  the  water  is  four  hundred  feet  below,  and 
reduced  to  a  rivulet  in  appearance,  but  boils  and 
foams  from  its  compression  within  such  narrow 
limits.  The  magnificent  road,  constructed  by  the 
engineer  Pocobelli,  is  carried  by  a  tunnel,  two  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  feet  long,  through  projecting  por- 
tions of  hard  rock ;  in  some  parts,  it  is  gained  by 
blasting  a  shelf  in  the  side  of  the  perpendicular 
mountain,  at  the  base  of  which  the  Rhine  washes 
its  way,  and  in  others,  is  not  wide  enough  for  more 
than  one  carriage  to  pass.  So  fresh  does  the  rent 
seem,  that  the  edges  of  the  rocks  are  sharp,  as  if 
some  earthquake  had  lately  occasioned  it,  the  action 
of  the  atmosphere  for  centuries  having  produced 
little  or  no  effect  upon  it.  It  is  a  glorious  scene, 
full  of  grandeur,  sublimity  and  verdure,  on  which 
the  eye  may  gaze  with  delight  and  awe,  exchanging 
wonders  at  every  turn.  We  were  very  loth  to  quit 
the  spot ;  yet  I  would  rather  see  these  wonders  oc- 
casionally, than  live  near  them.  We  took  a  lun- 
cheon at  Spliigen,  near  the  source  of  the  Rhine. 
The  glacier  in  which  it  rises  descends  almost  into 
the  valley,  so  cold  and  desolate  is  its  birth-place — 
from  thence  it  runs  like  a  little  rivulet  along  the 
valleys  to  which  it  gives  its  name,  receives  supplies 


198 


THE  PASTOB 's  WIFE  ;  OR 


from  numberless  cataracts,  and  in  the  Via  Mala, 
descends  in  thundering  torrents,  occasionally  over- 
whelming trees,  bridges,  houses,  rocks,  in  its  im- 
petuous course,  and  at  last  becomes  the  noble  river 
which  bears  the  merchandise  of  many  lands  thr^gh- 
out  Europe.  What  great  events  spring  from  trifling 
causes  I 

"  We  left  the  pass  of  the  Spliigen,  and  took  the 
Bernardin.  The  mountain  is  about  eight  thousand 
feet  high,  but  the  road  into  Italy  is  so  gradual,  that 
our  postillion  trotted  quickly  down,  without  drag- 
ging the  wheel,  and  turned  the  corners  of  the  zig- 
zags with  incredible  skill ;  but  we  thought  a  little 
slower  pace  would  have  been  wiser,  and  certainly 
would  have  spared  my  nerves.  The  whole  of  the 
curves  and  angles  of  the  road  lie  before  you,  and 
the  view  into  Italy  is  most  superb,  especially  as  we 
saw  it  to  more  advantage  in  consequence  of  a  storm 
which  was  lowering  in  the  distance,  while  we  were 
riding  in  sunshine.  DescencUng  into  the  valley, 
we  passed  through  the  village  of  Misooco,  where 
chestnut  and  walnut  trees  of  majestic  size  abounded 
in  fruit.  The  contrast  was  very  striking  between 
the  barren  snow-clad  mountains,  by  which  a  few 
hours  ago  we  stood  shivering,  and  the  scorching 
valleys  where  the  vines  are  trained  across  the  road, 
and  the  tempting  clusters  hang  over  the  heads  of 
the  thirsty  travellers.  A  beautiful  and  graceful 
cascade  falls  from  the  top  of  a  rock,  close  to  the 
road,  not  far  from  Leggia,  well  worth  gazing  at. 
When  not  very  far  from  Belinzona,  a  singular  noise 
aroused  us;  it  proved  to  be  one  of  the  travelling 
bags,  which  was  recreant,  and  tried  to  run  away — a 
few  moments  more  would  have  hberated  it — it  was 
already  knocking  against  the  wheel.  After  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour's  trouble  and  delay,  all  was  set  right, 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


199 


and  we  entered  Bellinzona,  fatigued  with  our  ride, 
and  with  the  sight  of  the  glories  of  nature  through 
which  we  had  passed. 

"  Bellinzona  is  a  dirty  town,  but  we  had  a  clean 
room  at  the  Aquila  d'Oro.  Its  three  castles,  though 
in  ruins,  are  picturesque ;  the  view  from  the  Cas- 
tello  Grande  is  the  finest,  and  well  repays  a  walk. 
The  storm  visited  us  in  the  night,  and  left  a  rainy 
morning.  At  five  we  started  for  St.  Gothard. 
through  the  lovely  vale  of  Ticino.  They  compelled 
us  to  take  four  horses  to  the  carriage  from  Faido. 
We  passed  through  Dazio  Grande,  which  interested 
us  much ;  it  seems  a  cleft  in  a  mountain,  a  mile  in 
length,  and  very  narrow.  The  carriage  road  winds 
its  way  through  it,  supported  by  arches  and  ter- 
races, and  crosses  the  river  thrice  on  bridges  ;  the 
whole  must  have  cost  an  immense  sum,  and  is  ex- 
ceetlingly  picturesque.  From  Airolo  we  began  the 
real  ascent,  by  a  series  of  zigzag  terraces,  which 
display  very  skillful  engineering,  and  are  not  so  ex- 
ceedingly sharp  as  on  the  Bernardin.  The  summit 
of  the  pass  is  a  scene  of  desolation — the  snow, 
sleet  and  thick  clouds  which  gathered  around  us, 
almost  threatened  to  wash  away  our  love  of  roam- 
ing. We  sheltered  ourselves  for  a  short  time  at  the 
Hospice,  a  massive  and  capacious  house  of  refuge, 
where  travellers  may  be  accommodated  as  at  an 
inn,  and  then  commenced  the  descent,  which  was 
rapidly  and  safely  performed,  almost  without  a 
drag,  through  Hospital  to  Andermatt,  where  we 
relished  an  excellent  supper  of  the  red  trout  caught 
in  the  Oberalp-See,  which  are  reputed  to  be  the 
finest  in  the  world.  Of  that  I  am  not  a  judge,  but 
they  were,  I  can  testify,  delicious.  Here  we  slept, 
and  found  it  exceedingly  cold,  though  in  a  burning 
autumn." 


200 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


Jiugust  25th. — "  A  peculiarly  interesting  part  of 
our  journey  now  commenced.  After  leaving  An- 
dermatt  we  soon  entered  the  pastoral  vale  of  Urse- 
ren,  and  were  scarcely  permitted  to  admire  its  ver- 
dure, before  we  were  conducted  by  the  road  to  a 
tunnel  180  feet  long  and  about  seventeen  feet  high, 
cut  through  the  solid  rock.  Formerly  this  project- 
ing rock  forbade  all  passage,  and  a  shelf  of  boards 
was  suspended  by  chains  to  its  sides,  which  was 
passable  only  on  foot,  and  exposed  to  the  spray  of 
the  roaring  Reuss.  As  you  emerge  from  the  tun- 
nel, the  Devil's  Bridge  appears  in  the  midst  of  the 
wildest  and  sternest  scenery.  The  Reuss  rises  in 
a  lake  near  the  summit  of  the  St.  Gothard,  and,  by 
a  succession  of  cataracts  to  this  bridge,  falls  nearly 
2500  feet.  One  of  them,  a  short  distance  from  it, 
drives  the  torrent  through  as  savage  a  gorge  as  can 
well  be  imagined.  Over  this  terrific  abyss,  at  a 
height  of  seventy  feet,  two  bridges  are  thrown,  one 
an  ancient  structure  of  fragile  appearance,  for  the 
passage  of  mules — the  other  a  modern  and  more 
solid  building,  for  carriages.  We  stood  on  the  latter 
for  a  short  time,  amazed  and  bewildered  by  these 
magnificent  works  of  God,  rendered  easy  of  access 
by  the  ingenuity  and  perseverance  of  man.  There 
was  just  rain  enough,  without  mist,  to  give  a  som- 
bre hue  to  this  awfully  sublime  spectacle,  of  which 
no  words  can  convey  an  adequate  idea.  Strange 
to  say,  this  place  has  been  the  scene  of  numerous 
conflicts  between  the  French,  Austi'ians  and  Rus- 
sians. In  1799,  after  the  former  had  blown  up  the 
bridge,  the  latter  erected  a  temporary  one,  by  tying 
together  planks  and  trees  with  their  officers'  scarfs, 
by  which  the  Russian  army,  consisting  of  20,000 
infantry  and  cavalry,  passed  over  and  pursued  the 
French.    If  men  will  fight,  the  savage  character 


MEMOIR  Ol'   MRS.  SHERMAN. 


201 


of  this  gloomy  den  seems  more  suited  to  the  scenes 
of  war,  than  peaceful,  smiling  and  inhabited  valleys. 

"  From  the  Devil's  Bridge,  we  descended  by  zig- 
zag terraces,  skillfully  constructed,  to  Schellinen, 
which  is  a  narrow  ravine  of  nearly  three  miles  long, 
with  Alpine  cliffs  of  granite,  which  seem  almost  to 
shut  out  the  sun,  where  no  verdure  is  seen,  and  the 
Reuss  continues  its  fearful  roar  and  dashing  course. 
By  the  side  of  the  road  lies  an  enormous  block  of 
granite,  which  some  storm  has  broken  ofF^  but 
which  the  people  believe  was  dropped  there  by 
Satan,  and  have  therefore  given  it  the  name  of 
Teufelstein.  As  we  passed  on,  the  scenery  became 
less  awful,  and  in  the  valley  the  walnut  and  chestnut 
trees  shaded  our  path.  At  length  we  arrived  at 
Altdorf,  the  village  in  which  it  is  reported  William 
Tell  shot  the  apple  from  the  head  of  his  son.  Two 
small  statues  in  the  square  mark  the  spots  where 
the  courageous  archer  and  his  blindfolded  boy  stood. 
The  tree  on  which  Gessler's  cap  was  hung,  to 
which  he  bade  the  people  do  homage,  perished,  and 
a  fountain  has  been  substituted  for  it.  At  Fluellen, 
a  small  village,  we  took  the  steamer  to  Lucerne, 
and  were  much  affected  to  see  the  number  of  cretins 
and  goitred  necks,  supposed  to  be  produced  by  the 
malaria  from  the  marshy  ground  at  the  entrance  of 
the  lake. 

"  The  lake  of  Lucerne  is  most  enchanting ;  its 
form  is  that  of  a  cross ;  the  lofty  Pilatus,  and  the 
Righi,  are  two  of  its  grand  ornaments;  the  snow- 
clad  Alps  of  Schwytz  and  Engelberg  appear  in 
sight ;  the  splendid  bay  of  Uri  adds  to  its  beauty ; 
the  chapel  of  William  Tell,  and  other  ornamental 
erections,  here  and  there  stud  its  banks,  among  the 
richest  foliage ;  and  the  remarkably  long,  covered, 
and  picturesque  bridges,  one  of  which  is  above  one 


202 


THE  PASTORS   WIFE;  OR 


thousand  feet  in  length,  render  it  one  of  the  finest 
and  most  interesting  lakes  in  Switzerland.  We  ar- 
rived at  the  town  of  Lucerne  at  six  o'clock,  after  a 
most  delightful  voyage,  just  in  time  for  dinner, 
which  our  keen  appetites  abundantly  relished. 

"  The  morning  being  very  lovely,  we  took  the 
steamer  to  Weggis,  where  a  horse  was  ready  for 
us  to  ascend  the  Righi.  In  the  course  of  one  hour 
we  were  enveloped  in  clouds,  and  could  see  nothing 
except  for  a  moment,  when  a  little  opening  ex- 
hibited to  us  the  sunny  scene  below.  Supported 
by  hope,  we  alternately  rode  and  toiled  for  three 
hours,  and  at  last  reached  the  summit  in  a  dense 
mist ;  but  as  there  is  a  bright  side  usually  to  the 
gloomiest  picture,  we  resolved  if  possible,  to  wait 
till  the  sun  should  disperse  the  vapors.  He  most 
kindly  favored  us  beyond  what  we  might  have  ex- 
pected, first  one  side  was  for  a  few  moments  clear, 
then  the  curtain  was  draw'n,  and  another  was  open- 
ed, till  at  last  by  incessant  watching  we  caught 
almost  the  whole  scene ;  but  the  entire  panorama 
which  is  so  extraordinary  we  could ^ not  obtain. 
We  counted  nine  lakes  in  the  valleys — Zug,  Zu- 
rich, and  Lucerne,  with  their  pure  blue  waters  lay 
immediately  below  us — many  towns  and  villages 
were  scattered  around,  and  mountains  in  every  di- 
rection, whose  ice-bound  summits  flittered  in  the 
sunbeams,  as  the  clouds  withdrew.  Pilatus  stood 
out  most  prominently,  though  we  had  no  good 
opinion  of  him  for  deceiving  us.  When  a  fine  day 
is  in  prospect  the  bald  head  of  Pilatus  wears  a  hat 
of  clouds— he  did  so  this  morning,  but  I  had  scarce- 
ly mounted  my  steed  to  descend,  when  those  in- 
convenient clouds  formed  a  compact  wnth  their 
neighbors,  and  produced  a  terrible  thunder-storm. 
For  once  we  found  to  our  cost  he  had  made  a  mis- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  203 


take.  The  rain  poured  in  torrents  as  we  descended 
the  mountain,  and  we  ghxdly  took  shelter  in  a  little 
Chalet  at  Kiissnacht,  designed  to  protect  the  shep- 
herds and  their  flocks  from  storms.  The  tlmnder 
among  the  mountains  was  most  sublime.  It  passed 
from  rock  to  rock,  till  it  grew  fainter  and  fainter- 
then  increasing  in  sound,  returned  to  the  spot  oppo- 
site to  that  from  which  the  echo  was  first  heard, 
thus  taking  the  whole  circle  of  echoing  rocks.  So 
may  the  gospel  spread  its  glad  tidings  from  heart  to 
heart,  and  from  shore  to  shore,  till  the  whole 
world  hears  its  glorious  sound  and  is  filled  with 
its  blessed  results ! 

'■'  The  next  morning,  our  interesting  companion, 
the  Rev.  F.  C,  who  had  contributed  so  much  plea- 
sure to  our  journey,  left  us  with  his  friend,  for  Ge- 
neva— and  after  sending  forward  our  luggage,  we 
crossed  the  lake  in  a  wherry  for  the  Oberland. 
The  boat  took  us  to  Alpnach — there  I  saw  one  of 
the  hemp-pickers  and  learnt  the  art.  She  gave  me 
a  long  lesson  in  the  factory  on  the  use  of  hemp,  but 
in  a  Patois  that  made  it  almost  useless  to  my  shal- 
low comprehension.  Here  we  took  a  guide  and  a 
little  open  carriage  to  the  lakes  of  Sarnen  and  Lun- 
gern.  The  latter  lake  they  have  attempted  to  drain 
into  lake  Sarnen,  and  recover  the  land  it  occupies 
for  cultivation.  At  present  the  deposits  from  the 
lake,  render  the  soil  very  barren,  but  it  is  expected 
that  in  a  few  years  it  will  repay  the  cost  and  ex- 
pense of  this  drainage.  The  lovely  wooden  cot- 
tages of  Lungern,  are  so  well  finished  that  they 
would  serve  for  models.  The  appearance  of  these 
cottages  and  their  occupants  differs  most  remark- 
ably in  different  cantons.  Vallais  is  one  of  the 
most  wretched,  and  its  inhabitants  appear  mote  like 
animals  than  immortal  beings.    After  dinner  we 


204 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


mounted  our  horses,  with  our  carpet  bags  strapped 
on  to  the  saddles,  to  cross  the  pass  of  the  Brunig : 
the  view  from  it  is  not  extensive,  but  extremely 
beautiful.  The  weather  was  not  propitious  till  the 
closing  hour  of  our  journey,  when  the  effect  of  the 
setting  sun  on  the  mountains  was  very  splendid. 
The  valley  of  the  Hash  in  which  Meyringen  is 
situated,  opened  upon  us  in  all  its  beauty,  tinged 
with  the  glories  of  the  setting  orb.  On  our  de- 
scent we  were  much  delighted  with  the  song  of  a 
muleteer,  w^ho  was  returning  to  Lungern,  and  in- 
viting the  striking  echo  to  rival  him  in  melody. 
We  reached  Meyringen,  about  seven,  Saturday 
night.  Sunday  was  a  most  lovely  day.  The  Pro- 
testant church  was  crowded,  but  the  sermon  did 
not  appear  to  produce  much  impression.  We  met 
at  dinner  only  three  ladies,  old  maids,  I  fancy,  who 
were  travelling  without  the  incumbrance  of  male 
society. 

On  Monday,  the  29th,  in  the  same  travelling 
style,  we  started  for  the  pass  of  the  Grimsel,  by 
Ober  Hash,  the  residence  of  Felix  Neff,  but  we 
were  not  aware  of  this  till  several  days  after.  We 
breakfasted  at  Guttanen,  and  called  on  the  pasteur, 
who  was  out ;  his  timid  wife  seemed  much  delighted 
at  our  sympathy — we  promised  to  call  on  our  re- 
turn, when  the  pasteur  would  probably  be  at  home. 
The  road  to  this  place  is  very  interesting,  and  com- 
bines rich  and  varied  scenery — the  Aar  roaring- 
through  naj-row  clefts,  valleys  covered  over  with 
corn  and  grass,  mountain-sides  clad  with  firs,  rocks 
of  all  forms,  and  zi^-zag  terraces,  vary  the  prospect. 
A  few  miles  brought  us  to  the  lovely  cataract  of 
the  Aar,  at  Handec,  the  first  we  saw  in  Switzerland. 
The  fall  is  more  than  one  hundred  feet,  and  so  im- 
mense is  the  quantity  of  water,  that  it  rushes  down 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


205 


about  thirty  feet  in  one  unbroken  glassy  sheet, 
where  it  is  met  at  right  angles  by  another  stream, 
the  Erlenbach,  nearly  as  large,  which  comes  roar- 
ing down  the  opposite  mountain  ;  they  mingle  their 
waters  in  the  dark  and  awful  chasm  beneath,  the 
depth  of  which  is  entirely  concealed  by  the  united 
foam  of  these  two  different  colored  streams.  We 
A'iewed  it  from  the  little  bridge  above,  and  from 
the  river  beneath.  When  we  had  re-started  about 
a  minute,  ray  dear  husband  experienced  a  most 
providential  deliverance :  his  horse  slipped  one  of 
his  feet  between  three  large  stones,  which  formed  a 
small  triangle,  from  which  he  could  not  extricate 
it,  -and  after  plunging,  fell,  and  threw  him  over  his 
head,  most  remarkably,  without  any  injury;  may 
such  a  deliverance  lead  to  the  inquiry,  '  for  what 
purpose  is  my  life  preserved  ?'  Oh !  may  it  be  for 
more  unreserved  consecration  to  the  service  and 
glory  of  Him  who  thus  again  renewed  his  gracious 
care.  From  this  spot,  the  road  became  more  and 
more  desolate ;  the  ascent  was  often  excessively 
steep,  and  formed  of  huge  stones,  like  the  broken 
staircase  of  a  ruined  tower.  Down  these  stairs  we 
so  cleverly  descended — my  guide  pulling  my  horse 
back  by  his  tail — that  even  I  felt  no  fear,  and 
scarcely  ever  dismounted.  In  some  places,  there 
was  only  just  room  on  a  narrow  ledge,  for  the 
horse  and  guide  to  pass  between  the  perpendicu- 
lar rocks  above,  and  a  descent  of  many  hundred 
feet  to  the  torrent  below.  The  avalanches  had 
made  a  perfectly  smooth  and  polished  surface  of 
rock,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width,  and  of  much 
greater  height.  Over  this  difficult  slope  of  stone 
the  horses  had  to  tread  with  only  a  trifling  protec- 
tion from  the  declivity  below ;  one  false  step  would 
have  proved  fatal;  and  though  huge  masses  of 


206 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  )  OR 


fallen  rocks  often  broke  our  path,  tliey  picked 
their  way  with  surprising  skill.  At  last,  the  bark- 
ing of  a  number  of  dogs,  which  are  trained  to  espy 
the  traveller  from  a  distance,  and  guide  him  to  the 
Hospice,  intimated  to  us  that  our  ditficult  journey 
was  at  an  end.  We  soon  discovered  a  most 
desolate-looking  dwelling,  whose  low  broad  roof, 
thick  walls,  and  deep  sunk  little  windows,  told  too 
plainly  the  dangerous  position  it  occupied.  In  the 
winter,  one  man  alone  remains  there  with  dogs,  and 
a  large  supply  of  cheese,  that  if  a  luckless  traveller 
should  reach  so  desolate  a  spot,  he  may  find  shelter. 
Five  years  since,  it  was  entirely  destroyed  by  an 
avalanche,  when  the  poor  man  and  his  brute  com- 
panions miraculously  escaped  by  a  doorway,  through 
which  he  dug  a  passage  in  the  snow.  We  waited 
a  short  time  to  rest  the  horses,  and  then  proceeded 
to  a  higher  elevation,  to  view  the  glacier  of  the 
Rhone,  our  guide  strongly  recommending  us  not  to 
descend  the  slippery  path  to  it.  The  ascending 
road  was  still  worse  than  before ;  tall  poles  were 
placed  occasionally  to  mark  the  way,  which  the 
snow  had  concealed,  but  the  view  of  this  magnifi- 
cent sea  of  ice  repaid  the  labor.  We  returned  in 
time  for  the  table  d'hote,  at  the  Hospice,  at  seven 
o'clock,  where  we  met  eighteen  respectable  per- 
sons, ten  of  whom  were  English.  Fatigue  made 
rest  truly  welcome,  and  after  a  refreshing  meal  we 
retired  to  our  little  dorraitoi  y — one  of  several  small 
low  rooms,  like  cabins,  divided  by  wooden  parti- 
tions, in  which  they  make  up  twenty  beds,  and 
supply  an  abundance  of  warm  covering,  suitable  for 
this  cold  and  desolate  region.  Opposite  to  our 
window  is  a  small  lake  of  black  water,  in  which 
nothing  lives. 

"  Neither  Byron's  pen  nor  Claude's  pencil  could 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


207 


give  an  adequate  idea  of  the  awful  grandeur  of  this 
sublime  scene — glaciers  spread  at  your  feet,  cover- 
ing a  surfoce  of  many  miles — peaks  of  mountains, 
sparkling  with  eternal  snows  (the  Finster-Aarhorn, 
the  Shreckhorn,  and  others,)  towering  above  in  their 
purity  and  might — shivered  rocks,  which  the  ava- 
lanches have  rent  and  broken,  presenting  their  rug- 
ged sides  and  threatening  to  overwhelm  you — roar- 
ing torrents,  pouring  down  from  the  icy  caverns 
with  foaming  fury — give  an  impression  of  the  power 
which  creates  these  wonders  which  can  never  be 
effaced.  We  seem  to  see  in  them  the  awful  God  ; 
but  how  refreshing  it  is  to  believe 

"  This  awful  God  is  ours, 
Oiir  Father  and  our  love." 

How  strange  that  we  poor  worms,  as  indeed  we 
seemed,  when  standing  by  the  massy  mountains, 
may  work  for,  and  even  with  such  a  glorious  Being. 
I  much  enjoyed  the  thought  that  these  are  the 
great  works  of  Him  who  is  indeed  '  my  Beloved,' 
and  sometimes  I  can  unhesitatingly  say,  'my 
Friend.'  What  an  hour  must  that  be  when  the 
sinner  shall  call  to  such  mountains  to  hide  him  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord  :  but,  which,  could  they 
obey  his  entreaty,  must  fail  to  screen  him  from 
that  all-penetrating  eye.  May  we  never  know 
such  a  moment ;  but  though  even  the  redeemed 
must  tremble  at  the  scenes  of  that  day,  may  we, 
with  them,  tremble  only  as  those  who  witness  the 
shipwreck  from  the  shore,  while  no  danger  can  ap- 
proach them  there.  Surely  the  mind  that  fully  ac- 
quiesces in  the  judgments  of  that  awful  day,  must 
yet  shudder  to  see  beloved  ones  doomed  to  eternal 
separation  from  the  only  source  of  happiness  and 
joy ;  and  one  can  hardly  imagine  the  absence  of 


208 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  *,  OR 


every  fear,  even  in  a  redeemed  soul,  when  the  sin- 
ner is  condemned,  and  the  redeemed  one  sees  his 
own  desert  in  that  condemnation.  I  feel  as  if  I 
could  never  be  certain  of  my  own  safety  till  the 
judgment  was  over,  and  the  separation  of  the 
righteous  from  the  wicked  unalterably  complete.  I 
could  not  see  these  rocks  without  the  fearful  thought, 
will  any  dear  one  of  mine  thus  seek  their  useless 
aid  in  that  day? — shall  I  seek  it?  Oh  that  we 
could  so  realize  eternal  things  as  to  live  for  eter- 
nity, making  every  thing  bear  on  that  state  which 
may  be  so  near  to  many  of  us ! 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  we  prepared  to 
return  to  Meyringen,  a  journey  worth  repeating  for 
its  interest  and  grandeur.  The  31st  was  a  pouring- 
day,  and  enabled  us  to  write  many  letters  and  com- 
plete our  journals.  The  1st  of  September  gave 
little  promise,  but  as  it  did  not  actually  rain,  we 
left  Meyringen  to  cross  the  great  Scheideck.  The 
first  object  of  attraction  was  the  Reichenbach — it 
is  a  fine  waterfall  with  several  leaps — each  having 
different  and  varied  beauties.  A  further  ascent 
brought  us  to  the  baths  of  Rosenlaui.  The  view 
near  this  spot  is  peculiarly  charming: — from  a  green 
pasture,  like  an  English  lawn,  on  which  chalets 
are  pitched  in  various  directions,  you  gain  a  pros- 
pect of  the  icy  peaks  of  the  Wellborn,  the  Wetter- 
horn  and  the  Engelhorner,  which  are  exceedingly 
picturesque.  Between  tw^o  of  these  mountains,  the 
Wellborn  and  the  Engelhorner,  lies  the  glacier  of 
the  Rosenlaui.  I  mounted  a  chair,  and  was  carried 
by  two  strong  men  up  the  ascent  over  a  small 
bridge,  which  crossed  a  narrow  but  tremendously 
deep  chasm,  produced  by  the  torrent  of  water  from 
the  glacier.  A  stone  was  thrown  down  on  each 
side  of  the  bridge,  to  give  us  an  idea  of  the  depth. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


209 


On  one  side,  it  went  directly  to  the  torrent  below ; 
on  the  other,  it  dashed  from  rock  to  rock,  and  was 
broken  into  many  pieces  before  it  reached  the  bottom. 
In  the  deep  blue  and  transparently  clear  ice  were 
formed  a  bridge,  and  a  cave  of  exquisite  beauty. 
The  bridge  was  continually  dripping  as  the  ice 
slowly  melted.  With  difficulty  I  mounted  some 
steps  which  were  cut  in  the  glacier  to  enable  us  to 
enter  the  cave.  We  could  not  go  far,  as  the  heat 
of  the  sun's  rays  had  produced  a  tremendous  chasm, 
but  it  enabled  us  to  see  the  immense  depth  of  this 
icy  mountain.  At  the  entrance,  it  was  probably 
about  eighty  feet,  but  here  it  appeared  fathomless. 
We  returned  amazed  at  the  wondrous  scene,  and 
delighted  with  its  beauty.  As  we  proceeded,  we 
heard  occasionally  a  noise  like  thunder,  produced, 
.IS  we  supposed,  by  the  falling  of  avalanches  from 
the  Wetterhorn,  but  the  dense  cloud  which  now 
overhung  the  mountain  prevented  our  seeing  any 
thing  beyond  the  base.  As  we  attained  the  sum- 
mit, a  short-lived  sunshine  enabled  us  to  see  the 
extent  and  beauty  of  the  valley  through  which  we 
had  passed;  but  the  moment  we  reached  the  other 
side,  we  were  in  a  dense  fog,  through  which  nothing 
was  visible.  Occasionally  a  break  in  the  clouds 
enabled  us  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  snowy  Wet- 
terhorn. The  descent  was  exceedingly  steep  and 
difficult,  on  account  of  the  recent  rain.  We  passed 
the  upper  glacier  of  Grindelwald,  which  comes 
down  into  the  valley,  and  while  we  were  standing 
near  and  looking  at  it,  an  enormous  avalanche  of 
ice,  of  some  hundred  tons,  fell  with  a  roaring  noise, 
leaving  a  pure  blue  rock  of  crystal ;  the  magnitude 
of  the  pieces  of  ice  compelled  the  torrent  at  the 
base  of  the  glacier  to  find  a  new  channel.  We  had 
been  admiring  its  purity  before  this  avalanche,  but 


210 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


the  new  current  ran  through  black  mud,  and  the 
stream,  which  was  clear  on  one  side,  became 
black  on  the  other,  and  urging  in  its  course  huge 
pieces  of  ice,  whose  blue  and  white  strangely  con- 
trasted with  the  muddy  waters  which  carried  them 
away.  We  were  reminded  of  the  change  in  the 
soul,  which  came  pure  from  the  Hand  that  formed 
it ;  but  intercourse  with  the  world  having  diverted 
it  from  its  original  channel,  it  carries  on  its  now 
polluted  stream  many  relics  of  former  purity,  which 
only  make  the  contrast  the  greater,  but  do  not  pu- 
rify it. 

"  We  proceeded  through  lovely  scenery  and  sun- 
shine to  Grindelwald.  The  rain  afterwards  fell 
gently,  and  the  snow-clad  mountains  by  which  we 
were  closely  surrounded,  produced  so  cold  an  at- 
mosphere that  we  welcomed  a  good  fire  in  our 
room.  The  morning's  brightness  gave  us  a  splen- 
did view  from  our  window.  Near  the  church  door 
we  observed  a  tombstone,  which  told  the  sad  tale 
of  a  clergyman  of  Savoy,  who,  in  1821,  lost  his 
life  by  falling  down  one  of  the  crevices  in  the  ice, 
some  hundreds  of  feet  deep. 

"  At  our  hotel  a  very  respectable  young  person, 
a  niece  of  the  proprietor,  waited  on  us.  Her  aunt, 
a  most  intelligent  woman,  was  training  her  for  ser- 
vice, without  permitting  her  to  associate  much  with 
the  servants.  We  were  both  interested  in  the  sim- 
plicity of  her  manners  and  apparent  piety,  and  dis- 
covered that  she  was  one  of  fifteen  orphans — ne- 
cessitated by  her  circumstances  to  seek  for  a  situa- 
tion. I  asked  her  if  she  would  like  to  live  in 
England  ?  Her  sparkling  eyes  and  ready  '  Oul, 
madame,'  told  the  truth  of  her  reply.  During  the 
evening  she  made  errands  to  attend  to  the  fire  and 
to  ask  if  we  required  any  thing,  in  order  that  she 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


211 


might  urge  her  plea  '  to  live  with  so  sympathizing 
a  lady.'  At  last  she  introduced  her  aunt,  who  gave 
her  an  excellent  character,  interceded  on  her  be- 
half, and  referred  us  to  one  uncle,  who  kept  the 
principal  hotel  at  Lauterbrunnen,  and  to  another, 
who  was  an  apothecary,  at  Unterseen ;  if  they 
agreed,  Susette  was  to  meet  us  at  Basle,  and  ac- 
company us  to  London.  When  we  left  the  hotel 
the  next  day,  several  of  the  young  women  who 
stood  with  Susette  at  the  door,  and  watched  our 
departure  on  our  horses,  expressed  a  fervent  wish 
that  they  could  accompany  her.  We  proceeded 
through  the  village,  w'hichis  ornamented  \vithsome 
of  the  most  picturesque  wooden  cottages  in  Swit- 
zerland. The  forests  of  fir  and  the  green  pastures 
form  a  charming  contrast  to  the  icy  peaks  and  gla- 
ciers, and  renders  the  situation  almost  unique,  even 
in  Switzerland.  The  ascent  to  the  Wengern  Alp 
was  very  steep  and  difficult,  owing  to  the  previous 
rain,  which  made  it  slippery,  and  to  fallen  rocks 
which  are  strewed  in  the  path.  To  our  left  stood 
the  stumps  of  a  whole  forest  of  firs,  which  the  ava- 
lanches had  cut  down.  Three  hours  brought  us  to 
the  rough  little  chalet  on  the  summit — a  more  bril- 
liant day  never  shone.  Right  opposite  to  this  spot 
stand  in  majestic  splendor  the  Jungfrau,  13,748  feet 
above  the  sea,  and  11,000  above  the  valley,  with. 
all  her  glaciers — the  Dent  d'Argent,  the  Munch,  the 
Great  Giant,  the  Little  Giant,  and  the  noble  Wet- 
terhorn  I  Being  high  noon,  the  burning  sun  exer- 
cised great  influence  on  the  Jungfrau — a  noise  like 
thunder  reached  the  ear,  and  in  a  few  seconds  blocks 
of  ice,  weighing  many  tons,  rolled  down  the  gul- 
lies of  the  mountain  like  a  cataract ;  in  their  fall 
they  were  shivered  to  pieces,  and  by  the  time  they 
reached  its  base  became  white  dust,  which  rose  like 


212 


THE  PASTOR  S  WII  E;  OR 


a  cloud  of  vapor.  We  had  the  gratification  of 
witnessing  no  fewer  than  seven  of  these  avahinches. 
At  the  table  d'hote  we  met  many  English  ;  the  pro- 
visions were  better  than  could  be  expected  in  a  spot 
some  miles  from  human  habitation. 

"  Our  descent  into  Lauterbrunnen  was  very  steep, 
but  commanded  a  beautiful  view  of  the  contracted 
valley,  which  seems  enclosed  by  a  wall  of  limestone 
rocks.  We  passed  the  Staubbach,  celebrated  for  its 
peculiar  beauties  as  a  waterfall.  It  is  a  small 
thread-like  stream,  which  descends  from  a  rock 
800  feet  in  height  in  waving  drapery,  and  is  thought 
by  some  to  resemble  a  lace  veil.  The  resistance  of 
the  air  reduces  it  to  the  smallest  rain,  before  it 
reaches  the  earth.  At  the  hotel  kept  by  Susette's 
uncle,  a  sensible  looking  man,  we  left  our  horses 
and  dismissed  our  guide.  Our  ojiinions  of  the  or- 
phan were  confirmed  by  further  conversation  with 
him.  Here  we  took  a  carriage  to  Interlachen, 
where  we  had  apartments  in  the  Jungfrau  hotel, 
with  the  mountain  in  full  sight.  The  evening  was 
devoted  to  conversations  at  Unterseen  with  Su- 
sette's relatives  and  her  pasteur,  who  all  gave  such 
testimonials  of  her  general  qualifications,  and  ap- 
peared so  pleased  with  the  prospect  of  her  residence 
with  us,  that  we  hoped  Providence  had  some 
gracious  design  in  the  unexpected  connection.  The 
next  morning  we  went  by  the  side  of  the  lake  to 
Thun,  instead  of  crossing  it,  as  the  steamer  left  at 
a  late  and  inconvenient  hour.  Our  coachman 
pointed  out  a  cave,  in  which,  he  told  us,  one  of  our 
countrymen,  St.  Beatus,  had  lived,  who  ejected 
from  that  solitary  abode  a  dragon,  by  merely  giving 
him  notice  to  leave.  I  wish  I  could  eject  the  old 
dragon  from  my  heart  in  a  similar  way.  We  ex- 
cessively enjoyed  our  early  ride,  and  breakfasted  at 


MKMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


213 


the  Hotel  de  Bellevue,  in  a  garden  commanding  a 
fine  view  of  the  river  Aar.  The  town  is  pictu- 
resquely situated,  about  a  mile  from  the  lake.  From 
a  terrace  in  the  ancient  church-yard,  the  lake  seems 
encircled  by  distant  Alps  and  glaciers,  and  its  banks 
near  the  town  are  seen  studded  with  villas  and 
tasteful  gardens.  The  little  town  was  thronged 
with  visitors,  and  had  a  most  lively  appearance ; 
the  many-colored  costumes  of  the  women  from  the 
various  cantons,  who  were  here  to  sell  their  pro- 
duce, contributed  not  a  little  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
scene. 

"  From  hence  we  drove  to  Berne,  through  a  very 
pleasing  country,  but  not  romantic.  The  Alps 
were  in  sight,  forming  the  border  of  the  landscape 
all  the  way,  and  an  unclouded  sun  lighted  them 
up,  and  made  them  sparkle  with  brilliance.  Berne 
is  seated  on  an  elevated  platform  of  land,  1600  feet 
above  the  sea,  and  is  the  capital  of  the  largest 
Swiss  canton.  The  Aar  nearly  encircles  it,  and 
adds  greatly  to  the  extreme  beauty  of  its  position. 
From  the  terrace,  a  most  splendid  view  of  the  great 
chain  of  Bernese  Alps  is  obtained.  We  counted 
fifteen  snowy  peaks  and  glaciers  towering  to  the 
skies — a  prospect  of  inconceivable  beauty.  The 
town  derives  its  name  from  the  Bear,  because  it  is 
said  its  founder  killed  one  of  enormous  size  on  the 
day  he  laid  its  foundations,  and  the  inhabitants  for 
several  centuries  have  maintained  living  specimens 
at  the  public  expense.  We  went  to  see  these  state 
prisoners  in  the  Barengraben,  and  gave  them  our 
voluntary  contribution  of  apples  and  cakes,  for 
which  they  amused  us  with  various  gambols  and 
grunts.  The  figures  in  the  clock-tower,  which 
stands  in  the  principal  thoroughfare,  are  amusing 
and  curious.    A  few  seconds  before  the  hour,  a 


214  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

little  wooden  cock  struts  out,  crows  twice,  and  flaps 
his  wings ;  another  wooden  figure  strikes  the  hour 
on  a  bell,  and  immediately  several  bears  march  be- 
fore a  king  seated  on  his  throne,  who  accompanies 
every  stroke  on  the  bell  by  lowering  his  sceptre  and 
opening  his  mouth.  The  exterior  of  the  Minster, 
especially  the  great  west  portal,  where  the  Last 
Judgment  is  sculptured  in  relief,  is  worthy  of 
minute  examination.  In  the  Museum,  among 
many  Alpine  curiosities,  such  as  the  lammergeyer, 
the  steinboch,  the  lynx  of  the  Alps,  and  the  un- 
lovely cubs  of  bears,  we  saw  stuffed  the  skin  of  the 
sagacious  dog  Barry,  of  St.  Bernard,  who  saved 
as  many  as  fifteen  persons  from  perishing  in  the 
snow,  and  thought  him  better  deserving  of  a  niche 
in  the  temple  of  fame  than  many  whose  names  are 
honored,  but  whose  lives  have  been  spent  in  mak- 
ing wives  widows,  and  children  fatherless.  In 
Berne  the  females  wear  large  black  gauze  wings, 
with  dark  dresses — not  very  bewitching. 

"Saturday  afternoon  we  started  for  Freyburg. 
Never  could  travellers  be  favored  with  a  more  suit- 
able atmosphere  for  gazing  on  the  range  of  Alps, 
which,  at  a  distance  of  some  miles,  skirt  the  pros- 
pect along  the  whole  line  of  road.  A  glorious 
setting  sun  threw  his  rays  obliquely  on  their 
virgin  snows,  which  reflected  them  back  in  pink 
hues,  and  made  us  half  wild  with  rapture  at  the 
celestial  sight.  Though  not  much  disposed  to 
weep  at  any  time,  I  was  quite  overcome,  and  could 
only  find  vent  for  expression  in  tears  of  joy  and 
gratitude  to  my  God,  who  had  made  for  me,  a  sin- 
ner, such  a  beauteous  world. 

"  The  entrance  to  Freyburg  is  singularly  grand  ; 
the  town  sufhlenly  bursts  upon  you  from  the  wind- 
ing road  which  overlooks   the  valley,  through 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


215 


which  the  river  Saarine  flows.  A  deep  gorge  lies 
between  you  and  its  ancient  houses,  battlements, 
and  watch-towers,  which  is  now  crossed  by  two 
elegant  suspension  bridges,  one  of  them  above  three 
hundred  feet  longer  than  the  Menai.  The  view 
from  the  first  bridge  is  romantic  in  the  extreme — 
houses  overhanging  the  precipices — embattled  walh 
and  fortifications,  in  irregular  lines,  on  hill  and  dale 
— the  river  flowing  174  feet  below,  and  cultivation 
and  verdure  ornamenting  every  spot  of  ground. 
The  women  wear  large,  circular,  flapping  straw 
hats,  a  neat  boddice,  and  scarlet  petticoats.  The 
streets  are  narrow  and  dirty,  and  the  population 
under  the  dominion  of  the  Jesuits.  Here  we  spent 
1  he.  Sabbath  in  private  worship,  and  being  the  an- 
niversary of  my  dear  husband's  entrance  on  the 
onerous  duties  of  Surrey  Chapel,  we  surveyed  the 
past  with  joy,  and  stimulated  one  another  to  cou- 
rage for  the  future.  It  was  a  high  day  of  spiritual 
enjoyment.  I  sought  opportunities  to  drop  a  word 
to  the  maids,  but  23rejudice  and  ignorance  seemed 
to  harden  them  against  God.  In  the  morning, 
however,  we  left  the  hotel,  in  a  char-a-banc,  with, 
t  think  and  hope,  a  pious  driver.  I  dropped  a  few 
remarks,  which  he  caught  up  with  great  interest, 
and  his  desire  seemed  to  be  to  do  me  good  by  show- 
ing me  the  value  of  true  religion.  May  his  wish 
be  realized,  and  may  we  know  it  more  and  more 
by  experience  of  its  power. 

"  We  reached  Lausanne  in  the  afternoon,  and 
walked  to  the  Cathedral  for  the  view,  but  found  it 
inferior  to  that  from  our  windows  at  the  Hotel  de 
Gibbon,  w^hich  immediately  overlooked  the  lake. 
As  we  wished  to  reach  Chamouni  soon,  we  took  the 
steamer  at  Ouchy — passed  the  interesting  castle  of 
Chillon,  but  had  not  time  to  enter  it,  and  at  Ville- 


216 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


neuve  took  a  carriage  to  St.  Maurice,  and  on  to 
Martigny.  It  is  a  lovely  and  striking  road — one 
part  exhibited  the  signs  of  devastation  from  an 
awful  avalanche  about  two  years  since,  supposed  to 
have  been  caused  by  the  bursting  of  a  glacier — a 
whole  village  was  destroyed,  and  a  great  extent  of 
land  covered  with  mud,  stones,  and  ice.  We  slept 
at  Martigny,  a  small  town  of  no  attractions.  Its 
inhabitants  are  dreadfully  afflicted  with  the  diseases 
produced  by  the  stagnant  overflowings  of  the  Rhine 
and  its  tributaries.  Ague,  goitre,  and  cretinism, 
smite  them  with  premature  old  age  and  deformity, 
which  excite  the  sympathy  of  the  traveller.  In  the 
morning  we  took  a  guide  and  mounted  our  horses 
for  Mont  Blanc,  a  spot  in  this  land  of  wonders  I 
had  longed  to  see.  The  pass  of  the  Tete  Noire 
was  recommended  to  us,  rather  than  that  of  the  Col 
de  Balme ;  what  the  latter  is  I  do  not  know,  but 
the  former  exceeded  all  my  expectations.  It  dif- 
fered from  any  thing  we  had  before  seen.  Green 
pastures  lead  to  the  Col  de  Forclaz,  through  a 
forest,  and  the  path  descends  again  to  cross  the  tor- 
rent issuing  from  the  glacier  of  the  Trient,  and  to 
enter  its  valley ;  then  ascending  to  the  brow  of  a 
mountain  covered  with  dark  firs,  the  Tete  Noire  is 
attained.  From  this  forest  you  emerge  into  a  path 
which  is  cut  by  the  side  of  a  wild  ravine,  many 
hundred  feet  deep,  and  some  miles  in  length — it 
passes  through  a  narrow  and  overhanging  rock, 
and  exhibits  scenery  of  the  most  savage  character, 
till  you  reach  the  Val  Orsine.  Thence  you  ascend 
to  the  summit  of  the  pass,  and  descend  again 
through  a  sterile  gorge  to  the  Vale  of  Chamouni. 
But  this  description  is  most  imperfect ;  suffice  it  to 
say,  whatever  your  imagination  can  picture  of  ele- 
gant waterfalls,  roaring  torrents,  frightful  gorges, 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


217 


gloomy  forests,  verdant  valleys,  aiguilles  of  ice, 
and  mountains  of  snow,  will  foil  short  of  the  pass 
of  the  Tete  Noire.  Mont  Blanc  was  full  in  sight, 
without  a  cloud,  for  three  hours  of  our  ride,  and 
the  various  windings  of  our  way  up  the  Tete  Noire 
enabled  us  to  see  point  after  point,  and  the  adjoin- 
ing glaciers  to  great  perfection.  After  a  brief  rest 
at  the  Hotel  de  Londres,  we  took  a  carriage  to  the 
Glacier  du  Bois,  the  source  of  the  river  Arveyron. 
The  rubbish  and  stones  accumulated  over  the 
plain  by  the  moving  of  the  glacier,  and  the 
overflowing  of  the  stream,  make  the  path  from  the 
spot  at  which  the  carriage  stops,  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult. The  vault  whence  the  river  issues  is  verj- 
beautiful,  but  not  equally  pure  with  the  cave 
of  Rosenlaui.  It  might  be  about  fifty  feet  in 
height. 

"  At  the  table  d'hote  we  met  several  English, 
who  were  very  merry  and  agreeable.  The  next 
morning  was  fine ;  we  started  at  half-past  five,  and 
breakfasted  at  the  Pavilion  on  the  Montanvert. 
We  spent  an  hour  in  walking,  and  occasionally 
sliding  over  the  Mer  de  Glace.  It  seems  scarcely 
credible  that  this  glacier  is  fifty-one  miles  in  mag- 
nitude— its  appearance  at  a  distance  is  that  of  a 
plain  of  rough  snow  and  ice,  over  which  you  could 
easily  walk  from  end  to  end,  but  when  you  are  on 
it,  you  find  fissures  of  pure  blue  ice,  in  some  parts, 
hundreds  of  feet  in  depth,  and  wo  be  to  the  travel- 
ler who  slips  in.  We  had  no  idea  of  the  magnitude 
of  the  large  crevices  till  we  looked  down  them. 
This  enormous  mass  moves,  they  say,  about  thirty 
feet  in  the  course  of  the  year.  The  objects  around 
are  very  sublime  and  beautiful.  Numerous  aiguil- 
les stand  like  sentinels  of  the  various  passes — small 
bilberry  bushes  adorn  the  banks,  which  slope  to- 


218 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


wards  the  ice,  the  fruit  of  which  we  plucked  and 
ate — and  the  particles  of  pure  white  snow  sparkle 
like  brilliants  in  the  sunbeams.  The  whole  ap- 
pearance is  much  more  heavenly  than  earthly, 
though  its  continued  gradual  movement  occasions 
destruction  and  desolation,  very  unlike  the  results 
of  heavenly  deeds.  Soon  after  we  commenced 
our  descent,  a  few  drops  of  rain  threatened  disap- 
pointment to  our  pleasing  anticipation  of  mounting 
the  Flegere.  We  met  great  numbers  on  their  way 
up,  and  sorrowful  was  their  disappointment,  as  the 
whole  sea  became  covered  with  a  mist,  so  that  not 
an  aiguille  could  be  seen,  or  scarcely  a  foot  before 
them.  We  had  scarcely  entered  the  hotel,  before 
the  rain  descended  in  torrents,  and  continued  the 
whole  day.  At  the  table  d'hote,  much  merriment 
was  occasioned  by  the  grotesque  appearance  of  the 
visitors.  Most  of  them  had  been  drenched,  and  had 
no  change  of  apparel.  Some  ladies  went  to  bed 
till  their  garments  were  dried,  and  a  few  gentlemen 
were  decked  in  the  waiters'  clothes,  some  too  small, 
others  too  large. 

"  The  next  morning  was  finer,  but  clouds  over- 
hung the  Flegere,  which  we  watched  with  much 
anxiety  till  two  o'clock,  when  it  was  too  late  to 
attempt  the  ascent,  and  Ave  started  for  St.  Martin, 
on  our  way  to  Geneva.  The  first  object  which 
arrested  us  was  the  glacier  of  Bossons — after  a 
fatiguing  climb,  we  beheld  the  ice,  which  at  a  dis- 
tance promised  little  interest,  split  into  blocks  of 
the  most  fantastic  forms,  pillars  and  pinnacles  nearly 
one  hundred  feet  high,  of  the  most  exquisite  purity 
and  deep  blue.  It  amply  repaid  our  visit.  The 
afternoon  became  gloriously  clear;  the  scenery  was 
grand  and  lovely  ;  Mont  Blanc  never  appeared  lo 
us  so  lofty  and  majestic  as  from  this  whole  road, 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


219 


and  justified  what  Byron,  I  believe,  so  appropriately 
writes, — 

'  Mont  Blanc  is  the  monarch  of  mountains, 

They  crowned  him  long  ago, 
Oil  a  throne  of  rocks,  in  a  robe  of  clouds. 

With  a  diadem  of  snow  ' 

Happily  for  us,  he  dispensed  with  his  robes,  and 
permitted  us  for  nearly  two  days  to  see  his  unveiled 
and  matchless  beauties.  We  visited  the  baths  of 
St.  Gervais,  situated  in  a  beautiful  gorge,  with  a 
lovely  waterfall.  The  warm  spring  is  much  sought 
after  by  invalids,  but  its  taste  is  most  filthy. 

"The  next  morning  brought  heavy  rain,  and 
prevented  our  seeing  the  celebrated  view  of  Mont 
Blanc  from  the  bridge  of  St.  Martin.  There  can 
scarcely  be  a  more  lovely  ride,  than  from  St.  Mar- 
tin, if  the  weather  is  favorable — the  rain  ceased 
only  about  an  hour  before  we  entered  Geneva.  At 
the  Hotel  des  Bergues,  we  found  the  best  accom- 
modations, and  what  is  most  cheering  to  a  traveller, 
a  number  of  letters  from  home,  bringing  favorable 
intelligence. 

11th,  Sunday. — "We  went  to  Dr.  Malan's 
church  in  the  morning,  and  heard  several  persons 
deliver  short  addresses  in  French  ;  Mrs.  Malan,  and 
several  of  his  family,  welcomed  us,  but  our  dear 
friend,  the  Doctor,  was  at  Brussels.  In  the  after- 
noon, heard  a  sermon  at  the  Cathedral,  charac- 
terized, alas !  by  unitarian  theology.  It  is  very 
affecting  to  see  a  pulpit  where  Calvin  preached, 
and  the  reformers  announced  the  glorious  doctrines 
of  the  deity  and  atonement  of  Christ,  occupied  by 
men  who  substitute  for  them  '  another  gospel,  which 
is  not  another.'  M.  Merle  D'Aubigne  was  also 
from  home,  and  our  disappointment  great. 


220 


THE   PASTOR  S   WIl-  E  ;  OR 


12th. — "  Started  by  steamer  for  Lausanne.  The 
lake,  which  is  fifty-five  miles  long,  and  six  broad 
at  its  widest  part,  has  many  exquisite  views,  but  we 
only  saw  it  for  an  hour,  when  rain  fell,  and  ob- 
scured the  prospect  of  the  Alps  and  vineyards.  We 
slept  at  Yverdon,  and  crossed  by  steamer  the  lake 
of  Neuchatel,  which  was  exceedingly  rough  and 
agitated.  On  our  left,  the  chain  of  the  Jura  moun- 
tains was  very  pretty,  but  not  equal  to  the  Alps. 
The  benevolent  institutions,  schools,  public  build- 
ings, and  good  roads  of  Neuchatel,  do  much  credit 
to  the  spirit  of  so  small  a  town.  From  hence  we 
drove  to  Biennes.  Its  pretty  lake  and  island,  on 
which  Rousseau  spent  much  time,  when  expelled 
from  his  native  shores,  he  describes  in  far  too  glow- 
ing colors.  The  lake  on  one  side,  and  continuous 
plantations  of  vines,  whose  rich  clusters  hung  in 
vast  profusion,  made  our  ride  very  lovely.  From 
Biennes  we  travelled  by  an  agreeable  carriage  to 
Tavannes,  through  the  lovely  scenery  of  the  Jura 
mountains  and  Munster  Thai.  A  natural  arch, 
known  to  the  Romans,  many  of  whose  names  are 
yet  extant,  introduced  to  us  the  little  village  of 
Tavannes,  in  the  vale  below ;  we  were  very  glad 
to  arrive  at  its  clean  little  inn,  as  it  was  almost 
dark,  and  rather  gloomy. 

"Next  morning,  at  half-past  five,, we  started  for 
Basle.  The  first  part  of  the  Munster  Thai  was 
exceedingly  grand,  commanding  a  view  of  the 
finest  portion  of  the  chain  of  the  Jura.  Arrived  at 
Basle,  September  14th,  where  Susette  and  her 
brother  met  us.  To  our  dismay,  we  learnt  that 
her  luggage  had  been  forgotten  by  the  conductor. 
The  whole  of  the  1.5th  we  waited,  hoping  in  vain 
for  its  arrival.  Here  we  bought  some  excellent 
Swiss  woodwork.    The  Cathedral  is  very  ancient — 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS,   SHERMAN.  221 


it  has  no  external  beauty,  being  built  of  red  sand- 
stone, which  exhibits  the  action  of  the  atmosphere 
on  its  surface.  Its  interior  is  divided  into  three 
parts  for  worship — one  is  used  for  summer,  another 
for  winter,  and  a  third  for  week  services  ;  it  con- 
tains a  few  objects  of  interest,  such  as  the  tombs  of 
Ecolampadius  and  Erasmus.  The  terrace  behind 
the  Minster  commands  a  noble  view  over  the  Rhine 
and  the  Black  Forest. 

"IQth. — We  left  early  for  Strasburg,  and  break- 
fasted at  St.  Louis,  where  a  pleasing  old  woman 
was  stationed,  to  inform  passengers  how  long  they 
might  wait.  But  my  husband  suspected  this  ex- 
traordinary poHteness,  and  when  she  intimated  that 
the  bell  which  was  ringing  was  only  the  first,  and 
that  it  would  give  two  more  peals  before  the  train 
started,  he  became  alarmed,  went  immediately  to 
secure  our  places,  and  happily  was  just  in  time  to 
save  the  train.  The  boat  for  Manheim,  down  the 
Rhine,  did  not  leave  from  Strasburg,  but  from  a 
place  some  miles  beyond  it,  so  that  we  were  disap- 
pointed in  not  seeing  the  interior  of  its  splendid 
Cathedral.  Our  carriage  stopped  only  a  few  mi- 
nutes in  front  of  it,  allowing  us  time,  however,  to 
admire  its  wondrous  window,  which  is  higher  than 
the  spires  of  York  Minster,  and  its  ingenious  fret- 
work stone  spire,  like  the  finest  wrought  iron. 
Through  uninteresting  scenery  we  came  to  Man- 
heim, where  we  slept. 

"  The  next  morning  the  fog  detained  us  for  nearly 
an  hour  on  the  river,  but  we  arrived  at  Cologne 
on  Saturday  evening,  and  remained  during  the 
Sabbath.  Mr.  Major  was  preaching  at  the  Luthe- 
ran Church,  where  my  husband  went,  not  knowing 
he  was  there.  After  service,  he  spent  some  time 
with  us,  and  interested  us  by  tales  of  former  days, 


222 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


when  the  gens  d'armes  attempted  to  seize  him  for 
preaching  the  gospel  of  Christ  to  the  peasants,  but 
they  cleverly  concealed  him,  and  many  were  con- 
verted to  Christ  by  his  ministrations.  We  left  for 
Rotterdam  on  Monday  evening,  in  much  rain — the 
boat  was  changed  at  Dusseldorf,  and  w-e  had  to 
scramble  to  secure  berths  in  the  cabin.  I  succeeded, 
but  dear  husband  had  to  sit  up  all  night,  and  could 
not  sleep  for  the  volubility  of  a  lady,  who  talked  in- 
cessantly. We  arrived  at  Rotterdam  on  the  evening 
of  September  21st,  and  sailed  for  our  own  beloved 
land  on  Wednesday,  at  noon.  The  passengers  in 
the  '  Columbine'  were  very  pleasant,  almost  all 
English.  I  slept  on  the  sofa,  in  a  room  destined 
for  the  ladies,  but  was  awoke  by  the  yawning  of  a 
man,  who  was  lying  under  a  table  by  my  side. 
We  had  lovely  weather,  but  were  obliged  to  cast 
anchor  for  two  hours  and  a  half,  in  consequence  of 
fog.  At  last  I  saw  my  own  country,  now  dearer 
than  ever. 

"  My  emotions  when  first  I  felt  myself  standing 
on  English  ground  were  indescribable.  While 
waiting  for  the  carriage,  I  would  have  written,  if 
possible,  the  feelings  of  my  heart,  in  adorhig  love, 
gratitude,  and  praise.  My  first  step,  after  showing 
Susette  the  house,  was  to  reconsecrate  my  all  to 
the  service  of  Him,  who  had  preserved  me  so 
graciously,  and  to  seek  that  if  the  number  of  my 
dear  husband's  services  must  be  abridged,  his  use- 
fulness might  be  increased  by  a  more  diligent  im- 
provement of  every  opportunity  to  make  known  the 
unsearchable  riches  of  Christ." 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


223 


CHAPTER  IX. 

EV^ENTS  DURING  THE  YEARS  1842  1845. 

The  expectation  Mrs.  Sherman  indulged  of  seeing 
her  "precious  child  Selina"  return  in  health,  was 
ripened  almost  to  certainty,  by  letters  which  she  re- 
ceived after  her  arrival  in  England,  announcing  the 
progress  made  towards  a  strengthened  and  renova- 
ted constitution.  Selina's  welfare  for  both  worlds 
seemed  bound  up  with  her  existence.  She  had 
witnessed  the  union  of  her  eldest  daughter  with 
the  Church  of  Christ,  and  her  steady  walk  with 
God  in  the  path  of  usefulness ;  one  thing  seemed 
wanting  to  complete  the  happiness  of  home,  for 
which  she  prayed  and  strove  night  and  day,  that 
the  younger  branches  of  the  family  might  follow 
the  example  of  their  sister,  and  publicly  decide  for 
God.  But  the  evidence  of  this  glorious  change  in 
Selina,  was  not  to  be  given  in  the  way  her  parent 
had  fondly  hoped.  Only  six  weeks  had  elapsed 
since  her  return  from  the  continent — she  had  re- 
sumed her  duties  with  renewed  energy,  and  every 
day  expected  to  behold  the  face  of  her  child,  bloom- 
ing with  health.  But,  alas  I  instead  of  this,  she  re- 
ceived the  following  harrowing  detail  of  her  suffer- 
ings and  death,  from  the  pen  of  the  dear  friend, 
who,  with  his  devoted  wife,  had  acted  towards  her 
as  the  tenderest  parents,  and  whose  kindness  awoke 
the  liveliest  gratitude  in  the  bleeding  hearts  of  her 
father  and  mother.    It  came  by  post,  and  was  de- 


224 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


livered  to  her  while  her  husband  was  engaged  in 
ministerial  duties. 

"  Freiwaldau,  October  2.5th,  1S42. 
"My  DEAR  Friend, 
"  You  are,  I  doubt  not,  long  ere  this,  in  receipt 
of  my  former  letter,  and  perhaps  also  those  which 
my  ^vife  has  more  recently  sent.  In  those  commu- 
nications we  represented  the  fond  hopes  which  our 
hearts  had  cherished  respecting  dear  Selina.  Those 
hopes,  I  deeply  lament  to  say,  have  all  been  sadly 
blighted,  and  mine  is  the  solemn  and  poignant  duty 
to  open  to  a  father's  heart  that  your  dear,  dear 
child  is  now  no  more.  She  died  here  on  the  night 
of  Thursday  last,  the  20th  instant.  At  half  past 
ten  o'clock  her  gentle  spirit  took  its  flight  from  the 
pangs  and  anguish  of  its  suffering  clay,  I  dare  not 
doubt,  to  join  the  happy  myriads  that  surround  the 
throne — to  be  '  absent  from  the  body,  but  present 
with  the  Lord.'  If  my  feelings  are  rent  with  bit- 
terness in  conveying  these  melancholy  tidings,  what 
must  be  the  sorrows  of  your  own  bereaved  heart  ? 
Already,  dear  friend  and  brother  in  Jesus  our  Lord, 
you  have  our  deepest  sympathy :  our  tears  and 
prayers  mingle  with  yours  before  the  throne  of 
Grace.  May  the  Lord  of  Love,  who  is  very  piti- 
ful, and  of  tender  mercy,  sustain  and  comfort  you 
under  the  anguish  of  this  heavy  blow.  My  first 
impulse  was  to  write  to  you  immediately,  but  after- 
wards I  thought  it  better  to  delay  it  for  a  few  days, 
until  I  could  give  you  a  satisfactory"  account  of  the 
funeral  and  other  circumstances,  which  might  re- 
lieve your  mind  from  all  anxiety  as  to  subsequent 
occurrences. 

"  This  day,  in  slow  and  solemn  silence,  we  bore 
the  cold  remains  of  your  beloved  child  to  the  grave, 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  225 


in  the  cemetery  here ;  all  the  English,  except  one, 
who  could  not  get  out,  were  present,  in  expression 
of  their  deep  sympathy,  also  many  Germans.  In- 
deed, the  greatest  kindness  has  been  manifested  by 
all.  The  whole  of  the  solemn  service  was  conduct- 
ed in  the  most  simple  and  impressive  manner.  As 
no  body  is  allowed  to  be  interred  without  the  pre- 
sence and  offices  either  of  a  Roman  Catholic  priest 
or  a  regularly  ordained  native  Protestant  minister, 
we  sent  for  the  Rev.  Andreas  Bathelt,  who  kindly 
came  a  distance  of  twenty  English  miles.  The 
funeral  took  place  at  ten  o'clock ;  they  met  at  our 
lodgings,  where  we  sang  a  hymn,  and  I  engaged  in 
prayer  and  spoke  to  those  present  on  the  sorrowful 
event.  We  then  walked  in  solemn  order  to  the 
grave,  Mr.  Smith  and  Mr.  Ellis  as  chief  mourners, 
twenty-one  English,  and  a  number  of  the  gentry  of 
various  nations,  together  with  a  crowd  of  peasants, 
formed  the  procession.  The  bier  was  borne  by  eight 
youths  of  Freiwaldau,  uncovered,  wearing  white 
gloves  and  a  branch  of  rosemary  in  their  hair,  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  the  country.  No  feathers 
waved  over  her  simple  coffin — three  chaplets  of 
flowers  alone  decorated  it.  Little  did  she  think, 
when  she  rambled  among  these  luxuriant  produc- 
tions of  the  mountains,  that  they  were  shortly  to  ac- 
company her  to  the  tomb.  At  the  grave  the  pastor 
offered  a  prayer,  and  gave  an  interesting  plain  ad- 
dress, easy  to  be  understood,  and  likely  to  be  pro- 
fitable to  the  assembly.  Those  of  us  who  stood 
more  immediately  near,  in  the  place  of  mourners, 
(though  all  were  such,  indeed,)  cast  with  our  own 
hands  the  first  clod  of  that  cold  clay  which 
claims  a  kindred  with  mortality — then  turned  to 
wipe  the  big  tear  that  gushed  from  many  an  eye, 
and  to  leave  her  to  repose  till  the  voice  of  our  re- 


226 


THE  PASTOR  S  WII  E  j  OR 


turning  Savior,  and  the  trump  of  God,  shall  wake 
her  ashes  to  immortality  and  bliss. 

"  The  arrival  of  dear  Mr.  Ellis  on  Saturday  even- 
ing, was  a  great  source  of  comfort  to  me,  in  the 
trying  and  responsible  circumstances  in  which  this 
mournful  bereavement  had  placed  me.  It  was  a 
consolation  to  meet  one  who  so  recently  had  seen 
you.  But,  alas !  he  came  too  late  to  witness  the 
last  and  painful  struggle  of  your  dear  and  sweetly 
patient  child.  He  bore  tidings  from  the  land,  and 
home,  and  friends,  she  loved  so  truly  and  so  strong- 
ly, but  that  eye,  now  glazed  in  the  dimness  of  death, 
was  forbidden  to  gaze  on  the  language  of  their 
love.  On  the  very  day  of  her  death,  she  received 
two  letters,  one  from  her  mamma,  and  one  from 
her  sister ;  but  she  was  unable  to  finish  reading 
them,  and  laid  them  under  her  pillow,  hoping  to  do 
so  in  the  morning — but  to  her  that  morning  never 
came.  Although  the  fever  of  which  we  informed 
you  had  been  subdued  by  the  water  treatment,  yet 
the  poor  dear  child  never  regained  her  strength ; 
nor  did  the  circulation  ever  recover  its  healthful 
tone.  She  was  always  cold,  the  weather  was  also 
very  much  against  her,  being  generally  cold  and 
wet.  When  we  had  a  fine  day,  we  used  together 
into  the  garden,  and  so  feeble  was  she,  that  I  often 
carried  her  down  stairs  in  my  own  arms.  Here  she 
would  sit  in  the  sun,  and  the  returning  color  to  her 
cheek,  gave  us  strong  hopes  of  a  perfect  recovery. 
She  seemed  for  a  week  or  two  to  gain  decided 
ground,  but  still  was  in  constant  suffering  from  her 
crises.  They  appeared  on  all  parts  of  her  body, 
some  of  them  large  and  deep,  and  discharging  co- 
piously. All  this  she  endured  with  a  sweet  and 
unrepining  patience,  which  must  have  been  from  a 
higher  source  than  mere  nature.    Indeed,  I  never 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  227 

saw  so  beautiful  an  exhibition  of  uncomplaining 
wo.  The  most  that  ever  escaped  her  lips,  was, 
'  What  shall  I  do  ?'  although  for  many  weeks  she 
could  not  use  her  hands,  in  consequence  of  the  fear- 
ful boils  on  them,  yet  she  seemed  to  relish  the  little 
tender  and  nourishing  bits  which  my  dear  wife  pre- 
pared for,  and  fed  her  with,  as  an  infant.  This 
little  office  of  love  my  wife  performed,  until  her 
own  hands  became  infected  from  the  constant  dress- 
ing of  the  wounds.  This  quite  disabled  both  her 
hands,  and  was  accompanied  with  the  most  excru- 
ciating pain  and  suppuration — she  is  not  able  yet 
to  use  them.  After  this  it  was  my  privilege  to  at- 
tend to  the  dear  child's  wants  in  those  little  mat- 
ters. She  never  had  even  her  lips  wetted,  without 
thanking  us  in  the  kindest  manner — and  often  did 
she  kiss  my  dear  wife's  hands,  and  add — '  Dear 
Mrs.  S.,  many  a  cup  of  cold  water  you  have  given 
me,  the  Lord  will  reward  you  for  it  all.'  Her  at- 
tachment to  Mrs.  S.,  was  so  great,  that  she  could 
not  bear  her  out  of  her  sight  for  a  moment.  Three 
weeks  ago,  an  enlargement  of  the  gland  under  the 
right  ear  appeared,  attended  with  great  pain,  and 
rendered  her  eventually  unable  to  open  her  mouth, 
so  as  to  masticate  her  food.  We  prepared  it  in  the 
easiest  form,  like  a  pulp,  but  soon  it  became  pain- 
ful even  to  suck  this  from  a  teaspoon ;  the  swelling 
increased,  with  some  variations,  and  about  the  be- 
ginning of  last  week,  began  to  appear  blue.  Her 
appetite  at  this  time  very  much  failed.  Still  we 
apprehended  no  danger,  nor  did  Priesnitz  either,  at 
least  he  did  not  say  so.  All  this  time,  she  was 
most  restless,  and  could  not  sleep,  save  when  wrap- 
ped in  her  wet  sheet,  and  even  then  not  well. 
About  Tuesday,  all  her  crises  began  to  appear 
blue,  and  she  complained  that  a  blue  swelling  had 


228  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

made  its  appearance  on  her  left  arm,  so  that  she 
could  not  lie  on  either  side  without  pain;  and,  there- 
fore, used  to  sit  all  night  m  the  arm-chair,  with  her 
head  resting  on  pillows  before  her,  but  still  obtained 
little  or  no  sleep.  At  this  stage,  Priesnitz  felt 
.nlarm,  though  the  most  he  ever  said  to  us  was, 
'  very  ill.'  He  was  extremely  attentive,  and  came 
latterly  twice  a  day  to  see  her. 

"  On  Wednesday  Mrs.  S.  said  to  me,  what  a  re- 
markable change  has  occurred  in  our  Selina's  crises 
— they  have  become  so  lividly  red  ;  yet  this  did 
not  alarm  us,  as  we  had  seen  the  most  fearful  crises 
of  a  similar  hue,  which  soon  after  did  well.  But  this 
was  not  all — on  Tuesday  she  began  to  bleed  from 
the  nose,  though  not  in  such  quantity  as  to  be  very- 
remarkable.  On  Wednesday  she  expectorated 
some  clotted  blood,  which  we  supposed  to  have 
come  merely  from  the  nose.  Her  lips  grew  white,  and 
towards  evening  her  nose  was  pinched  and  her  face 
evidently  swollen.  Until  the  afternoon  of  that  day 
we  had  not  a  serious  apprehension,  attributing  every 
symptom  to  the  effects  of  the  cure,  and  still  believ- 
ing that  in  the  issue  of  the  crises  health  w'ould  be 
restored ;  and  fondly  did  we  cherish  (perhaps  with 
a  pardonable  pride)  the  hope  of  presenting  your 
dear  child  to  you  safe  and  sound.  She  had  not  the 
least  idea  of  danger  herself.  If  Priesnitz  appre- 
hended death  to  be  at  hand,  he  kept  it  from  us. 
Our  ignorance  of  its  near  approach  has  caused  my- 
self and  my  dear  wife  many  a  bitter  tear.  He  had 
told  one  of  the  women  in  attendance  (we  then  had 
three)  to  communicate  his  fear  that  she  would  not 
survive  the  night.  This  she  did  not,  and  thus  were 
we  kept  in  ignorance  up  to  the  fatal  moment.  I 
tended  her  that  evening,  my  dear  wife  being  unable, 
and,  indeed,  the  last  words  the  dear  child  said  to 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  229 

lier,  as  she  kissed  her  cheek,  already  clammy  with 
the  cold  dew  of  approaching  death,  were,  '  Ah ! 
I  only  wish  I  could  do  any  thing  for  your  fingers.' 
I  saw  her  again  at  ten  o'clock  that  night,  to  give 
her  a  little  milk  and  water  and  a  bit  of  peach,  and 
without  apprehending  death  to  be  near,  I  said  to 
her,  when  she  was  recounting  her  pains  and  an- 
guish— '  Oh !  my  dear  child,  do  you  not  know  that 
if  we  could  do  or  think  of  any  thing  that  could 
give  you  ease,  we  would  do  it — would  I  not  hold 
you  up  in  my  arms  all  night  if  that  would  mitigate 
a  single  pang  ?'  '  Yes,'  she  said,  '  I  know  you 
would.'  I  added,  which  at  the  moment  I  felt  the 
greatest  liberty  in  doing — '  You  know,  my  dear 
child,  that  sin  is  the  cause  of  all  the  pains  you  now 
endure  ;  *by  man  sin  came  into  the  world,  and  death 
by  sin.' '  I  then  set  before  her  the  love  of  God,  in 
giving  his  only  begotten  Son  to  put  away  sin  by 
the  sacrifice  of  himself.  'His blood  cleanseth from 
all  sin,  and,  oh  I  dear  Selina,  if  you  believe,  and  trust 
in  that  blessed  Savior  Jesus,  you  have  not  only 
pardon  through  his  precious  blood,  but  He  will  give 
you  peace  and  comfort,  even  amid  your  pangs.' 
While  I  spoke  these,  or  words  still  more  expres- 
sive, there  was  a  pause  in  the  utterance  of  her 
pains,  she  looked  at  me  earnestly,  and  replied  with 
the  most  hearty  concurrence,  and  in  full  expres- 
sion of  her  faith,  '  Yes,  I  know  it  is  so.'  The 
longer  I  reflect  upon  it  the  more  thankful  I  feel, 
ami  the  more  fully  do  I  believe  she  fell  asleep  in 
Jesus.  This  was  much  from  her,  whose  natural 
reserve  on  the  subject  of  religion  was  striking, 
though  she  knew  the  grace  of  God,  I  believe, 
clearly.  She  never,  even  when  exhausted  and 
weary,  left  our  room  at  night  till  we  had  prayer 
and  readincf.  Often  did  she  ask  Mrs.  S.  to  read  to 
^  20 


230 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


her,  and  oft  myself  to  pray  ;  still  I  was  more  look- 
ing to  the  clay  of  recovery,  to  address  her  person- 
ally upon  the  subject  of  her  interest  in  Jesus,  and 
fondly  did  we  anticipate  the  time  when  she  would 
make  a  bright  and  devoted  follower  of  the  Lord. 
But  that  night,  I  doubt  not,  I  was  led  by  the  Lord 
himself  to  address  lier  in  this  earnest  and  affection- 
ate manner,  and  I  thank  Him  for  it  on  many  ac- 
counts. I  said,  '  I  am  now  going  to  pray  for  you.' 
'  Well,  do,'  she  added,  and  bade  me  good  night 
three  times,  with  an  anxious  gaze,  as  I  withdrew.  I 
had  not  been  in  my  chamber  above  half  an  hour  when 
I  was  suddenly  alarmed  by  a  noise  in  her  room,  in 
which  I  heard  her  voice  distinctly.  Instantly  one 
of  the  servants  knocked  like  thunder  at  my  door  ; 
I  sprang  from  my  bed,  and  in  a  moment  had  her 
in  my  arms,  in  the  last  convulsive  effort  of  expiring 
nature.  She  went  off  as  in  sleep  ;  we  raised  ami 
laid  her  on  the  bed,  but  her  heart  was  silent  and 
her  spirit  had  fled.  The  immediate  cause  of  death 
was  from  the  smaller  blood  vessels  giving  way 
nearly  all  over  the  body,  but  especially  on  the 
vital  organs.  The  blood  itself  was  thinned,  and 
the  vessels  so  attenuated  that  effusions  were  the 
consequence.  I  could  not  say  now,  whether  or  not 
this  was  caused  by  the  water  treatment  solely,  or 
whether  there  -was  not  a  natural  predisposition  to 
the  fatal  result,  which  might  have  been  accelerated 
by  the  stimulating  character  of  the  treatment. 
The  latter  is  the  more  probable.  I  shall,  however, 
bring  with  me  the  result,  as  stated  in  the  post- 
mortem examination.  The  organization  was  good 
and  sound,  save  as  stated  above.  The  body  was 
o])ened  by  two  English  surgeons,  who  have  mani- 
fested (indeed,  in  common  with  all  here)  the  kindest 
and  deepest  sympathy. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


231 


"Thus  terminaled  the  mortal  career  of  one  whose 
mental  and  moral  qualifications  were  of  a  high  and 
noble  order,  who  was  esteemed,  respected,  and 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  her.  I  never  did  find  in 
any  young  person  a  more  matured  judgment ;  she 
seemed  intuitively  to  have  acquired  what  years 
and  age  have  only  conferred  on  others.  Her  beau- 
tiful demeanor  whilst  under  our  immediate  care, 
endeared  her  to  us  with  an  affection,  perhaps,  dear 
friend,  far,  far  beyond  what  we  should  ever  have 
felt,  had  she  not  been  removed  from  us.  We  felt 
towards  her  as  our  own  dear  child,  and  as  far  as  in 
us  lay,  we  left  nothing  undone  to  make  her  happy, 
to  comfort  or  sustain  her.  If  we  failed,  it  was  in 
not  being  more  personal  in  our  addresses  on  the 
subject  of  her  immortal  soul.  Yet  we  do  both  feel 
assured  that  she  was,  and  evermore  shall  be,  the 
Lord's.  This,  dearest  friend,  is  the  true  source  of 
consolation  to  your  own  heart  in  her  removal. 
She  has  left  the  vale  of  sorrows  to  enter  the  land 
of  joy  and  glory,  where  God  himself  shall  wipe 
away  all  tears  from  our  eyes,  and  there  we  too 
shall  meet  with  all  who  love  that  blessed,  dearest 
Name  by  which  we  are  called,  the  name  of  Jesus. 
May  the  consolations  of  Christ,  the  bowels  of  mer- 
cies, and  the  comfort  of  love,  be  yours  under  this 
heavy  bereavement.  We  purpose  to  leave  this 
place  next  Monday,  and  hope  to  reach  London  by 
the  14th  or  15th  of  November.  In  passing  through 
London,  we  shall  call,  and  give,  by  word  of  mouth, 
a  more  full  detail ;  meantime,  dear  friend  and  bro- 
ther in  Christ,  farewell.  My  dear  wife  unites  with 
me  in  this  expression  of  deepest  sympathy  and 
Christian  love  to  Mrs.  S.  and  yourself. 

"  Believe  me. 
Most  faithfully  and  affectionately, 

"A.  Stewart." 


232 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


It  afforded,  however,  no  small  satisfaction  to  her 
friends  to  learn  from  Mr.  Stewart,  that  the  English 
surgeons  who  had  seen  the  whole  case,  pronounced 
as  their  decided  opinion,  that  no  human  wisdom 
could  have  foreseen  the  result,  nor  any  human  aid 
have  prevented  it.  It  will  readily  be  supposed 
how  acutely  her  mother  felt  this  unexpected  ca- 
lamity, and,  according  to  the  usual  tendency  of  her 
mind,  how  anxiously  she  sought  that  it  might  be 
made  useful,  especially  to  her  class.  One  of  her 
first  efforts  after  hearing  of  it,  was  to  that  end.  To 
her  friend,  Mr.  Tyler,  she  thus  writes : — 

''Surrey  Parsonage,  Jfov.  8th,  1842. 
"My  dear  Sir, 
"  The  mournfully  instructive  Providence  which 
has  deprived  our  fireside  of  one  of  its  loveliest  at- 
tractions, ought  to  be  improved,  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  to  the  young  people  of  my  class.  I  dare 
not  trust  myself  to  perform  the  melancholy  duty. 
Will  you,  my  ever  kind  friend,  undertake  this  for 
me  next  Sabbath-da)  !  Circumstances,  and  little 
notes  of  her  writing,  have  come  to  me,  which  have 
perfectly  relieved  my  mind  of  all  anxiety  as  to  her 
eternal  state.  I  had  suffered  exceedingly  from  the 
absence  of  a  full  assurance  that  all  was  well,  but  I 
can  now  rejoice  on  her  account  in  the  midst  of 
grief,  and  believe  firmly  that  my  precious  Iamb  is 
with  the  good  Shepherd,  no  more  liable  to  stray 
from  His  tender  care.  Oh,  the  unutterable  joys  of 
my  sainted  child  I  With  Christ — spotless  and  fit 
for  the  presence  of  purity  itself!  Oh,  to  be  sure  of 
meeting  her  there,  clad  in  the  same  robe,  and 
washed  in  the  same  blood.  My  beloved  husband 
feels  most  deeply  and  increasingly  the  heavy  stroke, 
and  my  own  Mary — all  I  she  needs  sympathy  in- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


233 


deed !  She  is  graciously  supported  under  her  loss, 
but  it  is  beyond  human  skill  to  heal  such  a  wound. 
There  is  'balm  in  Gilead,'  there  is  'a  Physician 
there,'  and  we  have  experienced  his  sympathy  and 
aid. 

"But  what  a  solemn  voice  is  this  to  the  many 
'  almost  Christians'  in  the  class  !  May  you  be  the 
honored  instrument  of  conveying  that  voice  to  their 
souls,  that  the  death  of  this  fair  flower  may  be  the 
spiritual  life  of  very  many,  and  that  the  decisive 
step  may  at  once  be  taken,  '  We  will  serve  the 
Lord.'  Forgive  this  hasty  note,  written  under 
deep  excitement  and  distress,  and  believe  me,  my 
dear  Sir, 

"  Yours  most  sincerely, 

"Martha  Sherman." 

In  another  note  to  the  same  friend,  written  on 
the  Sabbath  morning,  the  desires  of  her  devoted 
soul  to  their  interests  again  break  forth. 

"In  the  retirement  of  my  closet  this  afternoon, 
my  feeble  prayer  shall  be  that  an  eminent  blessing 
may  rest  on  you,  and  on  those  endeared  young 
people;  that  the  usefulness  I  had  planned  only  for 
my  beloved  child,  may  be  accomplished,  and  not 
defeated,  by  her  early  removal.  One  thing  will 
tend  pre-eminently  to  heal  my  wounded  heart — the 
conversion  of  those  dear  girls  to  God.  Long  have 
I  pleaded  for  them — it  may  be  that  God  is  about  to 
grant  me  my  desire,  by  this  solemn  dispensation. 
I  believe  they  would  rejoice  to  soothe  me  in  my 
sorrow — this  I  can  say — my  sorrow  shall  be  turned 
into  joy,  if  they  will  this  day  consecrate  themselves 
to  God." 

Succeeding  particulars  are  detailed  in  a  letter  to 
a  friend. 

20* 


234 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


"Mr.  Tyler  improved  the  event  to  my  class,  I 
understand,  in  a  very  impressive  manner.  The 
weeping  among  the  dear  girls  will  prove,  I  trust, 
the  softening  shower  which  precedes  the  springing 
of  the  seed,  which  shall  eventually  bring  forth  fruit 
to  life  eternal.  We  had  fully  expected  Mr.  James, 
of  Birmingham,  to  preach  to  the  congregation;  but 
as  he  could  not  come,  the  elders,  and  some  of  the 
more  judicious  of  the  church,  so  strongly  urged  my 
dear  husband  to  undertake  it,  that  he  reluctantly  con- 
sented, and  last  Sunday  evening,  to  an  overflowijig 
congregation,  he  preached  from  John  xix.  38,  '  A 
disciple  of  Jesus,  but  secretly,'  a  most  suitable  and 
impressive  sermon.  The  character  was  faithfully 
and  affectionately  drawn,  and  I  am  looking  for 
much  fruit.  As  it  will  be  printed,*  pray  that  its 
usefulness  may  extend  far  beyond  our  congrega- 
tion." 

A  little  before  this  period,  Mrs.  Sherman  had 
become  deeply  interested  in  a  group  of  sisters  in 
Lancashire,  of  cultivated  minds  and  manners,  one 
of  whom  only  had  at  that  period  become  associated 
with  the  church  of  Christ.  During  repeated  visits, 
she  labored  to  impress  them  with  the  loveliness  of 
religion,  and  the  absolute  necessity  of  immediate 
consecration  to  the  Savior.  Without  attributing 
too  much  to  her  example  and  conversation,  there 
is  every  reason  to  believe  they  left  a  conviction  of 
its  value  and  importance,  and  were  preliminary 
helps  to  their  decision.  She  had  the  joy  of  be- 
holding all  of  them,  before  her  death,  united  to 
Christ  by  faith,  and  the  companions  of  his  saints. 

*  The  Secret  Disciple;  a  Sermon  occasioned  by  the  decease 
of  Miss  Selina  Shprmiin,  at  Freivvaldau,  Silesia,  Austria, 
preached  at  Surrey  Chapel,  November  27th,  1842,  by  the  Rev. 
James  Sherman. — Fourth  Edition. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  22C 

An  extract  from  a  letter  to  one  of  these  amiable 
sisters,  will  best  exhibit  her  anxieties  and  prayers 
on  her  behalf. 

"June,  1841. 
"  I  should  rejoice  in  attempting  the  most  painful, 
self-denying  thing,  if  I  could  but  be  the  means  of 
bringing  my  sweet  friend  to  the  entire,  the  unre- 
served consecration  of  her  heart,  her  life,  her  all  to 
Christ.  This  is  my  earnest  prayer  for  you,  dear, 
and  my  happiness  cannot  be  perfect  in  this  world 
till  it  is  accomplished.  I  think  of  that  soul  which 
is  destined  to  immortality,  as  one  whose  powers 
were  granted  that  they  might  promote  the  glory  of 
Him,  who  entrusted  them  to  your  care,  and  fit  you 
for  the  society  of  the  pure  spirits  in  heaven,  and  to 
enable  you  to  further  the  glorious  designs  of  God, 
in  bringing  others  to  that  blessed  company.  He  is 
always  promoting  the  happiness  and  benefit  of  the 
creatures  He  has  formed  for  Himself,  and  He  de- 
signs that  such  should  be  the  benevolent  and  ele- 
vated occupation  of  every  redeemed  spirit  in  this 
world.  The  powers  of  mind — their  cultivation  by 
education  and  thought ;  all  the  events  of  Provi- 
dence, and  the  little  incidents  in  your  history  ;  the 
vexations  and  daily  mortifications,  to  which  you,  in 
common  with  every  other  creature,  are  subject,  as 
much  as  the  pleasures  and  enjoyments  of  life ;  all 
are  designed  to  lead  to  heaven,  to  prepare  you  for 
its  hallowed  joys,  and  expel  every  weed  which 
might  not  grow  in  the  Heavenly  Garden.  Can  I 
fail,  then,  to  look  with  much  anxiety  on  her  who 
seems  wavering  and  hesitating  ;  knowing  too  much 
of  the  loveliness  of  true  religion  to  be  happy  with- 
out it,  yet  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  its  glories 
to  feel  that  all  besides  is  worthless,  and  to  take  up 


23G 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


her  cross  for  its  glorious  Author's  sake.  Methinks, 
if  you  could  fairly  place,  side  by  side,  the  value  of 
the  pursuits  of  the  two  worlds — the  earthly  and  the 
heavenly — you  could  not  choose  the  earthly ! 
What  is  the  end  to  which  ail  your  pursuits  bear?  I 
know  you  are  amiable,  intelligent,  benevolent,  kind, 
with  many  sweet  charms  besides.  But  take  all 
your  life  together,  what  end  have  you  in  view? 
Your  pursuits  gratify  you  as  far  as  they  are  the  re- 
sult of  your  own  choice  I  they  are  enlarging  your 
mind  by  adding  to  your  stores  of  knowledge,  and 
thus  making  you  an  intelligent  and  interesting 
companion ;  you  fill  the  station  in  which  Provi- 
dence has  jilaced  you  with  much  propriety  ;  you 
administer  to  the  happiness  of  many,  as  you  have 
(lone  to  me.  But  there  is  something  deficient  in  it 
all ;  and  if  1  mistake  not,  the  feeling  which  I  had 
for  many  years,  is  yours ;  there  was  wanting  one 
grand  object  of  pursuit ;  which  at  the  entrance  of 
your  spiritual  course,  like  Christian's  wicket-gate, 
is  to  be  always  in  view. 

The  Christian,  when  his  heart  is  surrendered  to 
Him,  from  whom,  in  its  madness,  it  wandered,  feels 
he  is  no  longer  his  own  ;  his  own  gratification  is 
not  his  aim — he  seeks  only  to  please  God.  Every 
imagination  of  his  heart  is  so  grovelhng  and  defiled 
that  he  longs  for  a  purer,  higher  guide  than  his 
own  wisdom.  And  he  finds  the  will  of  God  in 
every  respect  pure,  and  worthy  of  a  soul  which  is 
to  dwell  with  God.  From  henceforth  the  glory  of 
God  is  the  aim  ;  in  every  pursuit  the  enlargement 
of  mind  is  sought,  that  it  may  contain  and  compre- 
hend more  of  God  ;  and  so  be  fitted  to  promote 
Jlis  designs,  and  work  with  Him,  in  the  renovation 
and  salvation  of  the  world.  Self  daily  becomes 
less  and  less,  as  God  appears  greater  and  more 


WEMOIII  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


237 


lovely ;  earthly  pursuits  become  uncongenial,  and 
the  bearing  of  every  thing  is  the  will  of  God  ; 
what  He  loves  the  Christian  loves  ;  what  He  hates 
the  Christian  hates.  God  loves  every  creature  of 
the  family  of  man,  and  seeks  his  happiness  ;  so  does 
the  Christian.  The  distinctions  he  once  felt  are 
gradually  lost  as  he  grows  in  grace,  and  his  desire 
is  to  to  carry  out  to  his  utmost  influence  this  object 
of  the  Divine  mind.  He  recognizes  and  loves  the 
traces  of  his  Savior's  image  where  they  are  to  be 
found  ;  and  where  they  are  not,  he  remembers  that 
once  he  too  was  unprofitable  and  corrupt,  and  he 
longs  to  procure  the  deliverance  of  that  soul  through 
the  Almighty  power  w^hich  rescued  him.  And  does 
not  even  this  very  faint  picture  prove  that  happi- 
ness is  no  where  to  be  found  till  w^e  begin  to  pur- 
sue the  great  end  of  our  being?  Why  did  the 
'  Son  of  God'  humble  Himself,  and  become  a  curse 
for  us,  but  that  we  might  be  delivered  from  that 
weight  of  sin  which  binds  the  soul  to  earth.  Would 
He  thus  have  suffered  and  obeyed,  but  to  restore 
us  to  the  pure  joys  of  pardon  and  communion  with 
our  Father  ?  Lose  not  a  moment  of  such  joy,  my 
sweet  friend ;  you  feel  the  burden  of  sin  heavier 
every  moment,  fly  to  the  cross,  cast  it  there,  and 
let  that  sin  defiled  heart  be  washed  in  that  cleans- 
ing stream,  and  there  seek  the  promised  Spirit  to 
enable  you  to  soar  towards  heaven,  to  take  up  your 
cross,  to  mortify  self  and  sin,  and  to  fix  your  eyes 
on  '  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.' 
Keep  his  example  ever  in  view  for  your  guide ;  his 
cross  to  remind  you  of  the  price  of  your  redemp- 
tion, and  your  obligations  to  devote  to  Him  what 
He  has  purchased  there.  And  as  his  Father's  glory 
was  his  undeviating  pursuit  while  working  out  our 
redemption,  so  be  it  yours,  as  one  who  reaps  the  be- 


238 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


nefit  of  it.  *  You  are  not  your  own,'  remember. 
Give  God  no  rest,  dear,  till  you  are  in  the  fold  of 
Jesus.  Yield  not  to  the  difficulties  of  prayer.  Sa- 
tan will  try  to  present  such  impediments  as  will 
provoke  you  to  relinquish  it,  at  times,  but  you  must 
apply  all  your  energies,  and  constantly  and  perse- 
veringly  too.  All  is  at  stake,  you  must  let  nothing 
interpose  between  you  and  heaven.  This  shall  be 
my  prayer  for  you,  my  child." 

Sufferers  had  always  a  large  share  of  sympathy 
in  the  heart  of  the  pastor's  wife,  and  an  event  call- 
ed forth  its  expression  on  behalf  of  a  little  boy,  sup- 
posed to  be  a  prince  of  the  Seminole  tribe  of  In- 
dians. His  history  is  full  of  romantic  interest. 
The  following  particulars  were  communicated  by 
Dr.  Welch,  who  brought  him  to  this  country. 

On  the  2oth  August,  1836,  a  scouting  party  of 
five  soldiers  set  out  from  Newnansville  to  scour  the 
surrounding  country,  and  look  out  for  signs  of  In- 
dians. Early  in  the  morning,  they  disturbed  seve- 
ral, who  were  helping  themselves  to  some  sweet 
potatoes  in  a  fenced  field,  belonging  to  a  deserted 
residence ;  the  Indians  took  the  alarm  time  enough 
to  leap  over  the  fence  and  make  their  escape,  re- 
treating over  a  small  stream  into  the  forest,  through 
which  the  soldiers  followed  the  trails  of  one  or  two 
a  short  distance;  they  then  deemed  it  prudent  to 
return,  not  knowing  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  and 
again  made  their  way  into  one  of  the  military  roads 
lately  made  in  Florida,  where  they  soon  fell  upon 
tracks  of  the  footsteps  of  an  Indian  child,  rendered 
distinct  by  rain  which  had  recently  fallen ;  these 
they  determined  to  pursue,  considering  it  tolerably 
certain  that  they  would  be  led  thereby  to  one  of 
the  encampments  of  the  tribe.  Towards  night-fall 
thev  came  in  sight  of  the  little  wanderer,  he  having 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


239 


in  fact,  lost  his  way.  With  that  quickness  of  hear- 
ing, which  characterizes  all  creatures  in  a  wild 
state,  he  seemed  to  be  aware  of  the  approach  of  his 
pursuers,  for  they  saw  him  bounding  like  a  fawn 
to  seek  the  covert  of  the  bushes,  and  there  they 
found  him  concealed  in  the  high  grass. 

On  being  seized,  he  uttered  a  scream  of  terror, 
expecting  instant  death,  but  he  soon  smiled  through 
his  fast-falling  tears,  and  in  an  imploring  attitude 
held  up  a  peach  in  his  little  hand,  as  a  ransom  for 
his  life !  In  his  flight  he  had  passed,  through  a 
peach  orchard — not  having  eaten  or  drank  the 
whole  day,  he  plucked  a  few,  and  put  some  of 
them  in  the  front  part  of  his  dress.  The  soldier 
took  the  offered  peach  and  smiled,  then  returned 
it,  and  taking  the  little  fugitive  in  his  arms,  mount- 
ed his  horse,  and  placed  him  behind  him.  It  was 
quite  dark  before  they  reached  Newnansville, 
where  he  was  taken  in  charge  by  one  of  the  sol- 
diers for  the  night,  who  fed  the  poor  little  famished 
prisoner  with  a  bowl  of  milk,  and  gave  him  a  blan- 
ket, in  which  he  wrapped  himself  after  the  Indian 
fashion,  and  lying  down  before  the  fire  was  soon 
asleep. 

On  the  next  morning,  he  was  brought  a  prisoner 
to  Colonel  Warren,  Commandant  at  the  Military 
Station  at  Newnansville,  by  whom  he  was  given 
into  the  charge  of  James  Shields,  the  soldier  who 
took  him,  and  who  humanely  preserved  him  from  a 
proposal  made  by  his  comrades  to  murder  him.  He 
seemed  to  be  five  or  six  years  old,  he  was  emacia- 
ted, and  his  appearance  indicated  extreme  suffer- 
ing. For  at  least  three  weeks,  he  maintained 
nearly  a  perfect  silence,  and  apparently  brooded 
over  what  he  felt  to  be  a  heavy  misfortune.  Well 
aware  that  he  was  in  the  hands  of  enemies,  he 


240 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OK 


looked  cautiously  and  quickly  around,  -whenever  a 
sound  reached  his  ears,  and  appeared  as  if  watching 
an  opportunity  to  escape.  Whatever  passed  in  his 
infant  brain,  it  was  quite  clear  that  he  did  not  con- 
template starvation,  as  he  ate  the  bread  and  milk 
which  was  given  to  him,  accepting  it,  however, 
with  indifference  or  shyness,  and  again  relapsing 
into  his  state  of  sadness  when  the  meal  was  finish- 
ed. He  was  never  heard  to  cry,  sob,  or  moan, 
but  generally  sat  on  the  floor  cross-legged,  motion- 
less, and  thoughtful,  and  seemed  overwhelmed  with 
a  melancholy  which  in  one  so  young  was  touching 
to  witness. 

Instead  of  sending  the  child  a  prisoner  to  head- 
quarters, Colonel  Warren,  with  commendable  kind- 
ness and  generosity,  removed  him  with  his  family 
to  his  country  residence,  where  he  permitted  him 
to  eat,  drink,  play,  and  sleep  with  his  children  ; 
and  although  the  child  of  their  enemies,  he  soon 
engaged  the  affections  and  kindly  feelings  of  the 
Colonel's  whole  establishment.  When  the  Colonel 
returned  with  his  family  to  Jacksonville,  the  little 
Indian  accompanied  them,  and  became  the  frequent 
visitor  of  Dr.  Welch.  He  had  now  acquired  a  suf- 
ficient knowledge  of  English,  to  make  himself 
tolerably  well  understood  ;  his  health  had  greatly 
improved,  and  he  had  grown  a  pretty  interesting 
child.  Dr.  Welch  entertaining  great  sympathy  for 
the  little  captive— fancying  he  observed  in  him  the 
dawning  of  good  qualities,  and  fearing  he  would  be 
eventually  claimed  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  preferred 
a  request  to  Colonel  Warren,  that  as  he  was  about 
In  leave  that  part  of  the  country,  he  would  allow 
the  doctor  to  constitute  himself  his  guardian.  This 
request  was  granted,  and  he  came  under  Dr.  Welch's 
protection  on  the  31st  October,  1837. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


241 


No  persuasions  could  induce  him  to  divulge  his 
own  name,  or  the  names  of  his  family — but  when 
sent  to  school,  the  governess  succeeded  in  eliciting 
from  him  his  own  name — Nikkanochee,  and  that 
of  his  father,  Econchatti,  and  when  asked  on  one 
occasion,  if  he  had  ever  been  whipped  whilst  in  his 
tribe,  he  replied,  "  Yes,  his  uncle  had  once  punished 
him  with  small  switches  to  make  him  walk  faster," 
(probably  when  retreating  from  their  enemies,)  and 
on  being  questioned  what  was  the  name  of  his  uncle, 
in  an  instant  he  answered — "  Oceola."  From  this 
and  other  concurrent  testimony,  Dr.  Welch  believes 
him  to  be  the  nephew  of  the  valiant  Oceola,  who 
was  treacherously  betrayed,  and  died  a  captive  in 
the  fort  of  St.  Augustine,  in  East  Florida,  and  the 
son  of  Econchatti  Mico,  King  of  the  Red  Hills. 
In  consequence  of  this  discovery.  Dr.  Welch  added 
Oceola  to  his  acknowledged  name  of  Nikkanochee. 
It  soon  became  evident,  that  being  freed  from  mili- 
tary guardianship,  the  hostility  of  his  white  neigh- 
bors, and  the  risk  of  his  being  claimed  by  the  au- 
thorities and  sent  "  West,"  rendered  the  situation 
of  the  orphan  boy  any  thing  but  secure.  Circum- 
stances transpired  to  determine  Dr.  Welch  to  leave 
Florida,  and  return  to  England,  where  he  arrived 
with  his  little  Indian,  on  the  2d  July,  1840. 

After  his  residence  in  England  about  eighteen 
months,  reverses  rendered  it  necessary  for  the  doc- 
tor to  place  his  young  charge  in  some  establishment 
where  his  education  would  be  attended  to,  and  he 
would  be  prepared  to  provide  for  his  wants  in  ad- 
vancing years,  but  every  attempt  failed  to  secure 
the  object.  By  Oceola's  repeated  visits  to  Mrs. 
Sherman,  she  had  some  opportunities  of  gaining  a 
knowledge  of  his  character  and  habits,  and  her 
sympathy  and  affection  were  drawn  forth  to  the 


242 


THE  PASTOR  s  wife;  or 


lad.  At  length,  after  much  consultation  with  her 
husband,  whose  sympathy  ran  in  the  same  channel, 
it  was  determined  to  receive  him  into  her  house, 
and  to  adopt  and  educate  him  as  her  child.  Al- 
though many  blamed  her  for  incurring  so  great  a 
risk  as  thait  of  taking  a  half-civilized  boy  into  the 
family,  every  step  of  his  history  hitherto  has  justi- 
fied her  decision.  By  the  liberality  of  friends  who 
were  interested  in  his  welfare,  Oceola  was  sent  to 
Mill  Hill  Grammar  School,  where  he,  by  his  cou- 
rage and  amiableness,  became  a  favorite  of  all  the 
scholars.  After  remaining  there  two  years  and  a 
half,  he  chose  the  sea  as  a  profession,  has  been  se- 
veral voyages,  and  maintains  a  high  character  from 
his  pious  captain  and  shipmates. 

It  was  very  refreshing  to  see  the  lively  interest 
Mrs.  Sherman  took  in  this  orphan's  welfare,  with 
what  assiduity  she  instructed  him  in  the  principles 
of  the  gospel,  both  orally  and  by  letter,  and  fur- 
nished him  with  comforts  to  which  heretofore  he 
had  been  a  stranger.  He  loves  her  memory  ;  may- 
he  yet  repay  all  her  efforts  and  prayers. 

The  year  1843  was  distinguished,  in  her  esti- 
mation, by  the  marriage  of  her  eldest  daughter, 
Mary,  to  Mr.  Charles  Burls,  junior — a  union  which 
has  been  fraught  with  much  happiness  to  the  fami- 
ly. The  pleasure  she  took  in  the  preparations  for 
that  event  will  not  be  forgotten  by  all  parties  inte- 
rested— especially  her  anxiety  that  the  ceremony 
and  "  the  marriage  feast"  might  contribute  some- 
thing to  edification,  and  convey  a  blessing  to  all. 
Nothing  was  neglected  that  her  taste  or  etiquette 
could  supply  ;  but  the  great  desire  of  her  soul  was 
uppermost,  that  Ihe  wedded  pair  should  leave  her 
roof  with  sanctified  impressions  of  duty,  and  enter 
upon  a  new  career  of  life  under  its  pleasing  and 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


243 


solemn  responsibilities.  Little  Oceola,  in  his  na- 
tive dress,  and  her  youngest  child,  Martha,  then 
nearly  five  years  of  age,  led  the  procession  from  the 
Parsonage  to  the  communion  table,  in  the  Chapel, 
spreading  sweet  flowers  in  the  way.  A  large  num- 
ber of  Christian  friends,  chiefly  relatives,  followed, 
and  the  sacred  edifice  was  crowded  with  an  inter- 
ested congregation.  The  father  of  the  bride  con- 
ducted the  service,  amidst  the  aspirations  of  many 
hearts  for  a  blessing  on  the  union  ;  and  after  their 
return  to  the  house,  at  the  request  of  Mrs.  Sher- 
man, the  Rev.  Dr.  Morison  delivered  a  most  appro- 
priate and  touching  charge  to  the  bride  and  bride- 
groom, and  again  commended  them  to  God.  At 
the  feast  several  gentlemen  addressed  the  company 
assembled,  and  produced  on  those  who  waited,  as 
well  as  on  those  who  partook  of  it,  a  most  salutary 
impression.  One  person  became  decided  for  God, 
as  the  fruit  of  her  prayers  and  eff"orts  on  that  me- 
morable occasion. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  in  the  following  year,  1844, 
she  gave  birth  to  another  daughter,  after  a  long 
season  of  painful  suspension  from  active  labor. 
While  confined  for  months  previously  to  a  horizon- 
tal position,  her  active  spirit  used  her  pen  and  in- 
fluence in  her  great  Master's  cause.  Only  three 
specimens  of  letters,  out  of  great  numbers  written 
at  this  period,  will  now  be  given ;  the  first  show- 
ing the  fervent  desires  of  her  pious  heart  towards 
her-first  born  child. 

"Surrey  Parsonage,  June  4th,  1844. 
"My  precious  Child, 

"  Mamma  has  been  thinking  and  talking  of  you 
so  much,  that  she  is  sure  you  ought  to  be  a  very 
good  little  child,  and  let  her  have  nothing  but  what 


244 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


is  pleasant  to  talk  about.  This  time  six  long  years 
ago,  you  came  to  mamma,  a  very  little  baby,  but 
so  fat,  and  looking  so  grave,  as  if  you  never  meant 
to  laugh.  Well,  mamma  was  very  much  pleased 
that  God  had  trusted  her  with  a  baby  ;  and  before 
He  had  done  so,  when  she  only  hoped  He  would 
give  her  one,  she  used  to  think,  what  will  that  baby 
be,  if  it  should  live  to  be  a  great  woman.  Mamma 
only  had  one  wish,  and  that  was  that  her  Heavenly 
Father  would  adopt  her  child  into  His  family,  thr.t 
it  might  always  love  and  serve  Him  in  this  world, 
and  then  go  into  his  family  in  heaven,  where  it 
would  be  with  Him  for  ever.  So  as  soon  as  He 
gave  her  the  little  baby,  mamma  gave  her  to  God, 
to  be  his  own  happy  little  child.  Now,  no  one 
likes  to  have  a  naughty,  sinful  child  in  their  fa- 
mily, and  God  is  so  holy,  and  so  good,  that  He  has 
only  good  children  in  His  family.  When  He  re- 
ceives them,  they  are  indeed  guilty,  sinful  children; 
but  He  gave  His  dear  Son,  Jtsus  Christ  to  suffer 
for  their  sins,  and  to  obey  His  holy  law,  which  all 
had  broken,  and  now,  when  a  little  sinful  child 
wishes  no  longer  to  grieve  Him,  but  to  be  obedient, 
and  holy,  and  fit  for  His  family,  she  goes  to  God 
by  Jesus  Christ ;  and  when  a  holy  God  would  say, 
'  I  cannot  receive  that  little  sinful  child,'  she  says, 
'  No,  but  Jesus  has  borne  away  my  sins,  and  honor- 
ed thy  holy  law,  and  for  His  sake  receive  me,  and 
make  me  one  of  thy  happy  and  obedient  children.' 
Now,  he  never  refuses  those  who  come  in  Christ's 
name.  Jesus  pleads  for  that  little  child,  that  for 
his  sake  she  may  be  accepted.  Then  the  Holy 
Spirit  of  God  performs  his  part :  He  takes  away  the 
little  heart  that  was  so  fond  of  sin,  and  makes  the 
dear  child  give  up  her  naughty  tempers,  and  try  to 
be  like  Jesus.    He  teaches  her  how  to  please  and 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  24o 

serve  God,  and  makes  her  love  Him  more  than  she 
ever  loved  any  body  before.  Then  every  one 
arouml  her  can  find  out  that  there  is  a  great  change 
in  that  little  child's  mind.  She  loves  her  Bible, 
she  loves  to  pray,  and  instead  of  trying  to  please 
herself,  she  tries  to  please  God  first,  and  then  every 
body  around  her.  If  any  one  is  unkind  to  her, 
instead  of  being  unkind  in  return,  she  tries  to  be 
more  kind  than  ever  to  that  person,  because  Jesus 
did  so,  and  tells  us  to  do  so.  Now  mamma  wants 
her  dear  little  Patty  to  enter  God's  happy  family  on 
her  birthday.  She  has,  many  thousand  times, 
prayed  that  you  might  be  there,  but  she  is  afraid 
you  are  not  yet,  and  she  wants  you  to  try  and  to 
pray  that  God  for  Christ's  sake  may  receive  you, 
and  write  your  name,  Martha  Rose  Sherman, 
among  the  long  list  of  His  dear  children  on  this 
your  birthday.  You  would  indeed  be  happy  then 
and  good,  and  mamma  would  never  be  afraid  if  you 
sliould  die,  because  she  would  know  you  were  safe 
with  your  Father  in  heaven.  Ask  your  kind  friends 
who  are  taking  so  much  trouble  to  teach  you,  to 
pray  with  you  to-day,  that  whatever  shuts  you  out 
of  that  family  may  be  taken  away.  You  love  to 
make  papa  and  mamma  happy,  do  you  not?  Now 
they  cannot  be  so,  while  they  think  you  are  not 
quite  sure  of  going  to  heaven  ;  you  are  not  a  baby 
now,  and  Jesus  tells  children  that  they  may  come 
to  Him,  and  He  will  guide  them  there.  How 
dreadful  must  it  be,  not  to  regard  what  such  a  con- 
descending Savior  says  ?  Let  mamma  hear,  that 
on  your  birthday  you  came  to  Jesus,  to  make  you 
His  own  child,  and  that  from  that  day  you  were 
always  trying  to  please  and  honor  Him.  Oh,  how 
delighted  I  should  be  to  hear  such  good  news  of 
my  own  dear  little  Patty  I  All  send  their  love  and 
21*  ^ 


246 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


kisses,  and  hope  you  will  live  to  see  many  more 
birthdays,  and  that  each  one  may  see  you  serving 
and  loving  God :  none  but  God  loves  you  more 
thTin, 

"Your  very  affectionate  mamma, 

"  Martha  Sherman." 

The  affliction  under  which  her  pious  mother  long 
labored,  sometimes  cast  a  dark  cloud  over  a  spirit 
ordinarily  happy  and  well  assured  of  its  interest  in 
Christ.  Her  daughter  thus  comforts  her  in  one  of 
these  seasons  of  dejection : 

"  How  sweet  it  is  to  know  that  redemption  and 
reconciliation  are  achieved  for  us,  entirely  inde- 
pendent of  any  merit  in  us ;  the  -work  is  complete 
in  itself — it  is  for  us  to  receive  it — and  though  faith 
often  fails  to  discern  its  possession  of  the  infinite 
treasure,  the  faint  yet  unquestionable  traces  of  the 
slow  and  gradual  progress  of  the  Divine  image  in 
the  soul,  m  which  Satan's  likeness  was  once  too 
evident,  give  cause  for  peace  and  joy,  and  the  full 
assurance  that  He  who  has  begun  the  good  work 
will  certainly  complete  it.  My  precious  mamma, 
you  cannot  look  into  that  mind  of  yours,  and  say, 
the  improvement  and  elevation  in  its  thoughts,  its 
tastes,  its  hopes,  its  desires,  and  the  results  of  those 
feelings,  are  but  the  effect  of  self-cultivation  and 
ordinary  enlargement  of  mind.  Surely  the  yearn- 
ing of  the  soul  after  God  and  holiness,  His  own 
blessed  Spirit  alone  implanted  there.  Oh,  that  faith 
were  ever  in  vigorous  exercise ! — how  would  it  aid 
us  in  the  struggle  against  Satan  without,  and  sin 
within.  Once  Satan  and  sin  dwelt  together  in  the 
heart,  but  while  there  is  any  evidence  that  God 
dwells  there,  we  certainly  know  that  Satan  is  ex- 
pelled, and  though  his  wretched  design  is  to  seize 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


247 


the  opportunity  of  comparative  mental  weakness 
which  disease  occasions,  to  try  and  regain  his 
power,  there  is  One  far  above  him  ever  watching 
at  our  side,  and  when  weakest,  his  compassionate 
heart  gives  double  protection,  if  faith's  dim  eye 
could  but  discern  it.  Ah  !  my  own  mother,  your 
'  title  is  clear'  to  me ;  would  that  mine  were  but  as 
clear.  Could  I  for  one  moment  believe  that  any 
part  of  my  salvation  depended  on  me,  I  should  for 
ever  despair ;  but  I  have  the  assurance  that  the 
provision  is  entirely  made,  and  is  mine,  if  I  will 
accept  it ;  my  confidence  is  strong  that  my  poor 
sinful  heart  is  '  made  willing'  by  '  His  power,'  and 
rejoices  in  every  acquirement  associated  with  that 
'  free  gift,'  and  loves  more  and  more  the  spirituality 
of  the  law  of  God,  and  the  glories  of  the  Divine 
character,  as  the  feeble  rays  of  light  from  heaven 
discover  them  more  and  more  to  my  understanding. 
Associated  as  these  are  with  a  sinful,  polluted  heart, 
I  dare  not  say  I  have  wrought  even  the  very  little 
that  is  there,  which  resists  that  sinfulness,  and  ab- 
hors that  pollution.  And  surely  you  have  evidences 
of  sanctification  that  my  poor  mind  has  never  even 
imagined,  much  less  possessed.  Oh,  that  this  af- 
flictive, but  righteous  and  all-wise  dispensation, 
may  purge  away  all  remaining  dross,  and  make 
you  unequivocally  reflect  the  lovely  image  of  the 
Crucified." 

The  next  note  is  addressed  to  a  young  friend, 
whose  union  took  place  on  the  very  day  Mrs.  Sher- 
man's youngest  child  was  born,  and  shows  her  im- 
pressions of  the  duties  of  the  marriage  relation. 

"Surrey  Parsonage,  June  \Qth,  1844. 
"  My  dear  Friend, 
"  I  cannot  anticipate  the  momentous  events  of 


248 


THE  PASTOR  S   WIFK  ;  OR 


Thursday  next,  and  at  the  same  time  the  equally 
momentous  event  which  may  previously  occur  to 
me,  without  expressing,  while  I  can,  my  deep  in- 
terest in  the  results  of  that  anxious  day,  and  my 
most  heartfelt  and  affectionate  prayers  that  you 
may  be  permitted  to  be  the  most  happy,  useful,  and 
honored  of  wives,  and  your  anticipated  husband 
prove  worth)  of  his  treasure,  and  be  equally  happy, 
honored  and  useful.  The  Christian's  ambition  in 
every  new  undertaking,  is  to  be  more  devoted,  more 
entirely  consecrated  to  the  service  of  his  adored 
Master  and  Lord  ;  and  I  believe  you  would  not 
have  ventured  upon  this  step,  had  you  not  believed 
that  such  would  be  the  result.  May  your  expec- 
tations and  hopes  be  far  exceeded,  through  the  rich 
blessing  of  your  covenant  God,  and  may  Ilis  smile 
ever  be  yours,  and  His  presence  ever  fill  your  dwell- 
ing, while  you  and  yours  never  cease  to  be  'His 
habitation  through  the  Spirit.'  My  dear  friend 
knows  that  one  of  the  important  duties  of  married 
life  is,  the  cheerful  sacrifice  of  self-gratification  for 
the  pleasure  of  each  other,  without  allowing  the 
sacrifice  to  be  recognized  ;  I  have  been  little  tried 
in  this  respect  with  my  most  precious  and  match- 
less husband,  but  I  never  make  such  efforts  with- 
out an  abundant  repayment  of  peace  of  m.ind,  and, 
I  trust,  a  blessing.  Such  is  perfectly  consistent,  I 
think,  with  unflinching  decision  of  character,  and 
firm  hold  of  what  is  right,  against  every  attempt 
to  draw  us  aside.  Such  trials  as  these  you  are 
not  likely  to  be  exposed  to,  as  my  friend  has 
chosen  a  decided  disciple  of  Christ.  May  you  be 
strengthened,  on  your  marriage-day,  more  espe- 
cially and  solemnly,  to  renew  your  consecration 
to  God  ;  this  will  greatly  relieve  the  trials  of  that 
which  was  to  me  a  terrible  day.    Excuse  this 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


249 


rough  little  witness  to  the  sympathy  and  remem- 
brance of, 

"  Your  very  attached  friend, 

"Martha  Sherman." 

A  serious  attack,  brought  the  newly  born  infant 
very  near  the  borders  of  the  grave  before  it  was  a 
month  old,  and  the  exercise  of  her  faith  and  patience 
was  not  without  gracious  fruit. 

"  I  am  thankful  to  say  I  am  quite  well  and  gain- 
ing strength.  My  precious  babe  is,  I  trust,  out  of 
danger  ;  the  improvement  since  yesterday  morning 
is  very  satisfactory.  I  could  almost  fancy  the  dear 
skeleton  limbs  had  recovered  a  small  portion  of 
their  original  flesh  ;  she  has  been  smiling  so  sweetly 
this  day  that  it  seemed  to  tell  of  returning  health. 
She  is  so  perfectly  gentle,  and  in  the  midst  of  severe 
external  as  well  as  internal  suffering,  has  exhibited 
such  sweet  placidity,  that  it  has  required  no  ordi- 
nary strength  to  say  from  the  heart,  '  thy  will  be 
done ;'  but  how  often  do  we  find  that  when  our 
Heavenly  Father  calls  us  to  a  trial  we  never  had 
before,  he  gives  us  grace  and  strength  we  never 
knew  before.  The  Refiner  never  removes  his  eye 
from  the  furnace  while  the  needed  fire  is  perform- 
ing its  work — the  tiny  piece  of  metal  was  not  too 
small  for  Him  to  care  for,  when  He  thought  it 
worth  putting  there ;  and  it  is  a  great  comfort  in 
sorrow  to  remember  that  that  sorrow  is  an  indi- 
cation that  he  is  noticing  us.  Which  of  his  chil- 
dren would  prefer  being  unnoticed,  rather  than  en- 
dure the  purifying  but  painful  evidences  of  his  love 
and  care.  Oh,  that  He  might  see  his  own  image 
clearly  reflected  in  the  unworthy  and  unprofitable 
heart  he  has  been  trying  so  painfully  but  so  merci- 
fully.   Tell  the  dear  ladies  to  remember  my  con- 


250 


THE  PASTORS  WIFE;  OK 


secrated  babe,  Selina,  when  they  approach  the  foot- 
stool of  mercy." 

Only  six  weeks  elapsed  from  the  birth  of  her 
child,  before  she  was  called  to  witness  a  long  ex- 
pected and  painful  event — the  death  of  her  excel- 
lent mother.  She  had  been  for  years  the  subject  of 
disease,  which,  while  it  did  not  lessen  her  activity, 
produced  such  acute  sufferings  as  drew  forth  the 
sympathy  of  every  one  who  witnessed  them.  Her 
faithfulness  to  the  friends  of  her  early  life — her 
hospitality  to  the  servants  of  Christ — her  services 
for  the  Redeemer's  cause  amid  much  weakness,  and 
her  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  poor  of  the 
neighborhood,  have  embalmed  her  name  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  came  within  the  circle  of  her 
influence.  To  her  daughter,  who  prized  her  ju- 
dicious counsels  as  one  of  her  best  earthly  com- 
forts, she  was  very  precious.  Of  this  event  she 
thus  writes  — 

"  I  know  you  have  not  forgotten  your  poor  un- 
worthy friend,  as  she  has  been  passing  through  the 
deep  waters,  and  the  promise  has  not  been  forgot- 
ten by  Him  who  gave  it,  '  I  will  be  with  thee.' 
Such  a  stroke,  before  my  strength  was  regained, 
might  have  been  overwhelming,  but  my  faithful 
God  sustained  me,  permitted  me  to  cheer  the  dying 
hours  of  my  sainted  mother,  and  I  think  to  comfort 
my  beloved  widowed  father.  But  how  shall  I  leave 
him !  His  mind  shrinks  from  the  idea,  but  home 
has  its  duties,  and  responsible  duties,  too.  He  can- 
not live  in  London,  I  cannot  live  at  Enfield  ;  tell 
me,  my  dear  friend,  what  is  my  duty ;  I  have  no 
sweet  mother's  counsels  now.  I  feel  I  am,  indeed, 
motherless.  Oh,  it  is  a  painful  loss.  I  know  duty 
cannot  clash  with  duty,  but  I  want  discernment 
to  discover  what  is  duty,  and  which  path  to 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


2oi 


take.  My  dearest  papa  clings  to  me  so  fondly,  and 
is  comparatively  happy  while  I  am  with  him.  He 
has  never  been  separated  from  my  beloved  mother 
since  his  marriage — except  for  two  days !  You 
may  suppose  how  desolate  he  will  feel.  There  is 
One  who  is  '  a  very  present  help  in  trouble,'  still  the 
absence  of  such  a  lovely  character  as  he  has  lost, 
can  never  be  made  up  in  this  world.  May  it  en- 
dear increasingly  the  privilege  of  communion  with 


During  the  years  over  which  these  events  run, 
she  maintained  the  even  tenor  of  her  way,  in  sup- 
porting by  her  correspondence  and  active  exertions, 
every  mstitution  in  connection  with  Surrey  Chapel, 
and  as  far  as  her  opportunities  extended,  the  cause 
of  Christ  generally.  It  often  happens  that  an  indi- 
vidual has  some  favorite  project  which  he  advocates 
to  the  forgetfulness  of  all  others  equally  useful,  but 
her  love  to  her  Lord  was  of  that  universal  charac- 
ter, that  every  branch  of  His  cause  gained  her  ener- 
gies, and  it  only  required  some  warm-hearted 
Christian,  who  knew  the  merits  of  the  Society  for 
which  he  pleaded,  to  solicit  her  aid,  and  her  whole 
soul  was  immediately  thrown  into  the  object. 
Among  the  letters  of  this  period,  numbers  were 
written  expressly  to  solicit  help  for  poor  ministers 
of  Christ's  gospel,  and  for  afflicted  and  impoverish- 
ed saints:  also  for  the  London  Missionary,  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible,  the  Christian  Instruc- 
tion, the  Maternal,  the  Dorcas,  the  Clothing,  the 
Jews,  the  City  Mission,  the  Town  Mission,  the  Irish 
Evangelical,  and  the  Colonial  Missionary  Societies, 
the  villages  around  Reading,  the  Sunday  Schools, 
the  School  of  Industry,  and  the  working  Missionary 
parties — pleas  are  urged  and  efforts  made,  as  if 
every  thing  depended  on  her  individual  efforts.  It 


252 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


is  no  marvel  that  the  Institutions  prospered  with 
such  an  earnest  heart  and  hand  to  help  them. 

To  give  her  numerous  epistles  on  various  subjects 
to  her  Christian  friends,  and  especially  to  her  youth- 
ful charge  would  swell  this  volume  to  an  immode- 
rate size,  and  yet  to  make  an  extract  from  any  one 
of  them  is  like  taking  a  painting  out  of  its  frame, 
for  the  professed  purpose  of  exhibiting  it,  but  at  the 
same  time  concealing  a  portion  of  the  subject. 

A  young  friend,  whose  heart  she  had  been  instru- 
mental in  bringing  to  the  Savior,  and  who  remind- 
ed her  of  that  as  the  cause  of  her  ardent  affection, 
extolling  the  feeble  agent  more  than  she  thought 
proper,  is  thus  gently  admonished. 

"  April  mil,  1845. 
"  I  have  a  perfect  horror  of  attributing  any  good 
to  my  own  exertions :  there  is  such  danger  of  tak- 
ing to  ourselves  what  belongs  only  to  God.  Look 
at  it  as  you  will,  the  praise  must  be  His — if  I  labor 
ever  so  self-denyingly,  He  first  put  into  my  heart 
the  motive  and  the  desire  to  do  so,  and  He  only 
gives  the  strength : — therefore,  if  my  heart  says — 
I  brought  that  sinner  to  Jesus — I  helped  that  fol- 
lower of  the  Savior  on  her  way,  I  immediately  fly 
to  the  blood  of  Christ,  for  pardon  for  that  self- 
glorifying  thought,  which  my  pride  and  ignorance 
suggested  !  Ah !  it  is  sufficient  honor  to  be  permit- 
ted to  suffer,  or  to  work  for  Christ ;  let  not  pride 
spoil,  and  perhaps  deprive  us  of  the  privilege,  by 
robbing  Him  of  his  glory.  What  need  we  have  of 
watchfulness !  how  many  undefended  parts  are 
there  in  the  heart !  and  Satan  lulls  our  suspicions 
by  his  plausible  attacks ;  therefore  the  more  devo- 
ted we  are  to  God's  service,  the  more  we  have 
need  to  watch,  because  his  temptations  then  are 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


253 


not  usually  to  open  worldliness,  and  evident  sin,  as 
those  are  not  congenial  to  a  mind  that  is  renewed, 
therefore,  would  be  rejected  ;  but  he  tempts  by 
means  of  spiritual  things,  and  makes  the  intended 
blessing  often  prove  an  occasion  of  sin.  So  it  was 
with  St.  Paul — the  revelations  which  made  Isaiah 
exclaim,  '  Wo  is  me,  because  I  am  a  man  of  un- 
clean lips  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  the  King,  the 
Lord  of  Hosts,'  proved  dangerous  to  the  humility 
of  Paul,  to  counteract  which  it  was  needful  for  him 
to  have  '  a  thorn  in  the  flesh,'  and  if  the  holy  Paul 
was  thus  dependent,  how  much  more  must  you  and 
I  be  ?  Oh,  let  us  be  more  constant  in  prayer  for 
that  humility,  without  which  we  are  never  safe. 
We  must  be  '  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through 
faith  unto  salvation,'  or  we  shall  never  '  stand.'  " 

A  zealous  disciple  belonging  to  her  class,  whose 
usefulness  was  not  small,  is  guided  by  the  follow- 
ing admirable  counsels : 

"  I  long  to  employ  your  active  mind  solidly ;  I 
want  that  tongue  to  talk  indeed  for  Jesus,  but  I 
also  want  that  mind  and  judgment  to  remember 
that  '  there  is  a  time  to  talk,  and  a  time  to  keep  si- 
lence.' I  quite  understand  your  feelings,  my  dear 
child,  for  I  believe  I  have  experienced  the  same; 
but  while  I  would  not  for  one  moment  check  or 
damp  your  earnestness,  I  want  you  to  control  it — 
to  keep  it  under  right  direction — to  be  prudent, 
quiet,  and  unobtrusive,  as  well  as  zealous  and  de- 
voted. Here  is  the  difficulty,  I  know^,  with  a  warm 
heart;  but  you  must  '  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God 
our  Savior  in  all  things,'  therefore,  'avoid  the  ap- 
pearance of  evil,'  of  forwardness  in  talking,  as 
though  you  thought  yourself  somebody  ;  this  some- 
times brings  an  ill  name  on  a  youthful  Christian, 
and  lessens  usefulness.    Now,  I  want  you  to  break 


254 


THE  pastok's  wife  ;  OR 


off  every  habit  that  is  not  calculated  to  glorify 
God.  If  you  are  a  favorite  in  the  class,  remember 
this  is  an  additional  responsibility,  which  calls  for 
much  prayer,  lest  that  which  may  be  an  instrument 
of  extensive  usefulness  should  prove  an  incentive 
to  pride  and  glorying  in  yourself.  Beware  of  this 
my  child:  I  watch  you  with  the  deepest  interest, 
because  I  see  such  excellent  materials  which  God 
has  implanted — not  you — and  if  not  directed  wisely 
and  by  Divine  guidance,  they  may  do  as  much 
harm  as  good.  Be  much,  very,  very  much  in  prayer, 
my  dear  girl,  that  you  may,  step  by  step,  be  guided 
by  Infinite  wisdom  and  love,  and  be  strengthened 
to  '  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may 
see  your  good  works,  and  glorify,'  not  you,  but 
'  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven.'  Thus  the  lowly 
Jesus  acted — not  to  be  seen  of  men — not  to  bring 
glory  on  his  own  glorious  head : — throughout  his 
whole  history,  unwearying,  unbroken,  self-denying 
labor  marked  his  course  ; — the  love  of  man's  un- 
dying soul  led  him  through  the  path  of  sorrow, 
from  the  manger  to  the  cross.  Now  his  work  of 
atonement  is  finished,  still  he  is  employed  as  our 
Intercessor  before  the  throne,  and  ere  long  '  all  na- 
tions shall  call  him  blessed.'  '  The  whole  earth 
shall  be  filled  with  his  glory,' — '  thrones  and  domi- 
nions, and  principalities  and  powers,  shall  bow  be- 
fore him,  crying,  Blessing  and  honor,  &c.,  to  him 
that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  to  the  Lamb,  for 
ever.'  May  we  be  among  them,  is  the  earnest 
prayer  of 

'Your  affectionate  friend, 

"Martha  Sherman." 

To  another,  who  objected  taking  an  oath  before 
a  magistrate,  and  asked  her  opinion,  she  writes :- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


255 


"  The  same  sacred  guide  that  says,  '  Swear  not 
at  all,'  says,  '  An  oath  for  confirmation  is  an  end  of 
all  strife.'  You  are  therefore  performing  a  Christian 
duty,  under  these  circumstances,  in  taking  the 
solemn  oath  that  you  will  speak  only  the  truth. 
The  necessity  of  this  oath  is  repeatedly  shown  in 
Scripture  history ;  the  interests  of  a  fellow-creature 
are  in  a  degree  in  the  hands  of  another,  in  such  a 
case,  and  it  is  necessary  to  secure  even  a  guilty 
person  from  false  accusation  and  misrepresentation ; 
and  as  there  are  certain  regulations  for  all  classes 
of  society,  and  not  a  special  one  for  conscientious 
persons,  your  duty  is  to  '  submit  to  the  higher 
powers,'  as  '  ordained  of  God.'  You  see  this  is 
very  different  from  taking  '  the  name  of  God  in 
vain.'  " 

The  next  is  a  note  of  consolation  directed  to  one 
of  her  class  in  the  hospital : — 

"You  remember  the  beautiful  first  Psalm;  the 
Christian  is  there  compared  to  a  tree  that  brings 
forth  his  fruit  '  in  his  season  ;'  he  has  sometimes  a 
time  of  affliction,  then  the  fruit  of  submission  and 
self-examination  is  in  season ;  sometimes  a  time 
of  prosperity,  then  the  fruit  of  watchfulness  and 
prayer  is  in  season ;  sometimes  a  time  of  tempta- 
tion, then  the  fruit  of  faith  and  close-cleaving  to 
Christ  is  in  season ;  sometimes  a  time  of  spiritual 
indolence  and  self-indulgence,  then  the  fruit  of  re- 
pentance and  self-abasement  is  in  season.  At  all 
times,  faith,  repentance,  and  love  are  in  season  ; 
and  when  they  wither,  it  is  evident  the  tree  wants 
watering  with  copious  showers  of  Divine  influence. 
Prayer,  as  in  Elijah's  case,  must  open  the  windows 
of  heaven,  which  have  been  closed,  that  there  may 
be  an  '  abundance  of  rain.'  Then  how  sweet  to 
know  that  the  heavenly  Gardener  is  watching  and 


256 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


training  this  little  tree :  through  his  intercession,  it 
has  not  been  cut  down,  and  His  blood  has  pur- 
chased the  blessings  it  needs  to  revive  and  sustain 
it.  May  you  and  I  bring  forth  much  fruit  to  his 
glory." 

A  servant  who  had  tasted  largely  of  the  grace 
of  God,  longed  to  become  a  missionary  to  the 
heathen,  but  Providence  did  not  appear  to  counte- 
nance the  desire  by  opening  a  path,  and  she  is  thus 
sweetly  instructed : — 

"Surrey  Parsonage,  Sept.  27th,  1845. 
"My  dear  Child, 
"  I  rejoice  to  hear  you  have  obtained  a  situation, 
and  as  I  find  the  class  will  not  meet  to-morrow,  on 
account  of  the  teachers'  meeting,  I  cannot  help 
writing  to  you  to  urge  upon  you  the  necessity  and 
duty  of  not  allowing  your  burning  desire  to  Avork 
for  God,  to  interfere  with  your  diligent  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  of  your  present  situation.  You 
glorify  God  most  diligently,  and  as  in  his  sight, 
performing  the  duties  devolving  on  you  in  the 
sphere  in  which  it  has  pleased  Him  to  place  you. 
If  your  heart  is  so  set  upon  a  certain  way  of  serv- 
ing Him,  that  you  fail  to  serve  Him  in  any  other, 
you  prove  yourself  unfit  to  serve  Him  at  all.  I 
long  for  you  thoroughly  to  understand  this :  you 
show  your  love  by  bearing,  as  well  as  doing  his 
will,  and  by  doing  whatever  He  gives  you  to  per- 
form. It  may  be  that  by  thus  calling  you  to  a 
work  so  different  from  that  which  you  desire.  He 
is  proving  and  exercising  you,  in  order  to  prepare 
you  for  work  of  another  kind.  If  diligent  in  His 
service,  you  will  be  diligent  in  serving  those  whom 
he  appoints  you  to  serve.  If  your  one  desire  is  to 
please  Him,  it  will  make  you  as  diligent  in  scour- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  257 


ing,  dusting,  and  sweeping,  as  in  distributing  tracts 
— as  anxious  to  be  as  a  Christian  a  pattern  of  neat- 
ness, punctuality  and  order,  in  your  situation  here, 
as  if  you  were  a  missionary  to  the  heathen ;  you 
will  labor  to  work  well  with  your  hands,  that  you 
may  be  able  to  work  for  Him  in  whatever  way  He 
chooses.  This  is  your  school,  where  you  are  fitting 
for  future  life :  if  inefficient  and  inferior  in  your 
services,  you  are  not  yet  qualified  for  superior  work. 
Get  perfect  in  your  present  occupation,  whatever  it 
may  be,  and  this  will  tend  to  qualify  you,  in  body 
and  mind,  for  any  service  to  which  you  may  be 
called.  Till  you  perform  household  duties  well, 
you  are  unfit  to  be  a  valuable  missionary.  But  do 
not  press  so  much  any  particular  path  ;  God  knows 
your  desire,  my  dear  child,  and  says,  '  It  was  well 
that  it  was  in  thine  heart,'  and  if  He  sees  fit,  can 
yet  give  you  your  wish.  There  leave  it,  simply 
seeking  to  do  his  will.  Do  strive  to  be  in  every 
way  a  treasure  to  your  employers.  Cultivate  great 
neatness  and  cleanliness  in  your  work  and  in  your 
appearance.  All  these  things  are  pleasing  to  God, 
especially  when  done  to  please  Him.  God  abund- 
antly bless  and  teach  you,  and  give  you  your  heart's 
desire  to  work,  to  live,  to  die  for  Him,  is  the 
prayer  of 

"  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"Martha  Sherman." 

The  following  letter  to  a  young  Christian,  who 
sought  her  advice,  is  so  excellent  that  the  reader 
would  scarcely  pardon  its  abridgement : 

"  Surrey  Parsonage,  March  20th,  1845. 
"My  very  dear  Child, 
"  Though  my  time  is  very  fully  occupied,  those 
22* 


258 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


are  my  happiest  that  are  my  busiest  days.  Since 
it  is,  I  trust,  the  supreme  desire  of  my  heart, 
to  *  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God,'  to  use  my  tongue, 
my  pen,  my  influence,  my  all  in  his  service, 
therefore,  a  letter  to  my  sweet  friend,  to  help  her 
instrumentally  in  her  way  to  '  the  kingdom'  comes 
most  pleasurably  into  the  employments  of  this  day. 
When  I  look  within,  at  my  own  '  exceeding  sin- 
fulness,' at  the  little  grace,  the  tiny  portion  of 
knowledge  I  possess,  the  coldness  of  my  heart,  and 
its  lifelessness  in  the  service  of  Him  who  gave 
himself  for  me,  I  am  ready  to  say — can  I  indeed 
be  of  the  happy  number  of  those  who  '  are  bought 
with  a  price,'  and  w^ho  therefore  are  sweetly  con- 
strained by  the  love  of  Him  who  bought  them,  '  to 
glorify  God  with  their  bodies  and  their  spirits 
which  are  his  ?'  but  one  look  at  the  cross  of  Jesus, 
at  the  wonderful  union  of  e-\  ery  attribute  of  Deity 
in  the  accomplishment  of  the  redemption  of  the 
world,  makes  me  feel,  that  worthless  as  I  am.  He 
can  save  me,  and  by  my  salvation  glorify  his  own 
name.  And  if  in  my  heart,  in  the  midst  of  all  my 
guilt,  there  is  one  all-prevailing  determination  to 
be  his,  to  '  follow  the  Lamb,'  to  give  glory  to  none 
but  Him,  He  only  gave  me  that  disposition,  min- 
gled as  it  is  with  corruption  ;  and  He  who  has  thus 
proved  the  commencement  of  his  work  in  me,  will 
assuredly  not  relinquish  it,  unless  I  grieve  him 
away  by  neglect  and  rebellion  ;  and  if  He  have  so 
far  gained  my  heart,  he  will  not  leave  it  thus  to 
return  to  its  former  rebellion — his  influence  there 
will  gradually  drive  out  sin,  and  restore  his  own 
image.  You  see  I  am  writing  to  you  about  myself, 
but  I  do  so  because  I  think  you  express  the  same 
discouragement  that  I  often  feel,  and  I  would  en- 
courage you  from  the  same  source  whence  I  have 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


259 


been  enabled  to  receive  comfort.  To  a  mind  really 
thirsting  after  God,  I  may  thus  give  encouragement, 
but  to  one  whose  indecision,  whose  efforts  to  unite 
the  service  of  God  and  the  world,  occasion  doubts, 
I  should  write  very  differently. 

"  You  ask,  '  Does  a  true  Christian  ever  feel  dis- 
inclination to  serve  God  ?'  I  certainly  should  say, 
and  so  would  you,  the  habitual  disinclination  must 
prove  an  unrenewed  mind,  but,  where  this  is  the 
exception,  not  the  rule,  occasioning  bitter  grief, 
humiliation  before  God,  and  prayerful  resistance  to 
it — this  certainly  is  consistent  with  the  Christian's 
conflict  with  sin  and  Satan.  The  many  blissful 
anticipations  of  the  heavenly  world,  include  the 
perpetual  service  of  God,  without  weariness  or  life- 
lessness,  and  I  think  that  in  proportion  as  we  'grow 
in  grace,'  we  shall  catch  more  of  the  Spirit  of  heaven 
in  this,  as  well  as  in  every  other  respect.  It  is  a 
great  stimulus  to  exertion  to  think  of  heaven — its 
holiness,  its  employments,  and  above  all  of  Him 
who  is  its  glory — this  makes  me  long  to  begin  and 
practice  its  occupations,  however  faintly,  and  to 
seek  that  others  may  glorify  Him  that  sits  on 
the  throne,  and  share  with  me  the  sweet  joys  of 
even  the  baby  efforts  to  serve  and  praise  Him. 
Oh,  the  very  thought  of  heaven  sweetens  every 
thing  here — every  trial  and  cross,  every  event 
seems  sweet  from  the  conviction,  that  all  is  designed 
to  help  us  on  our  way  thither,  to  call  out  by  test, 
our  character,  that  we  may  discover  what  we  are ; 
to  strengthen  our  '  faith  and  love,  and  every 
grace,'  by  exercise  and  trial,  and  to  endear  to  us 
the  price  of  our  redemption,  the  precious  word  of 
God,  our  guide  to  heaven,  and  the  blest  Spirit 
who  takes  of  the  things  of  Christ,  and  shows  them 
to  us. 


260 


THE  pastor's  ^vife;  or 


"  I  think  it  is  a  great  help  to  the  discovery  of 
our  own  character,  to  cultivate  a  constant  habit  of 
self-inspection,  asking  ourselves  our  motives  for 
certain  actions  of  the  day  ;  and  our  reasons  for  cer- 
tain shrinkings  from  duty.  Like  any  other  habit, 
it  may  to  a  certain  extent  become  a  form,  so  that 
we  use  it  almost  mechanically,  but  supposing  this, 
we  yet  must  glean  even  at  the  worst,  some  ac- 
quaintance with  ourselves,  and  some  matter  for 
prayer.  This  must  not  supersede  that  self-exami- 
nation which  should  accompany  the  regular  seasons 
for  devotion — this  habit  greatly  facilitates  it,  leads 
through  the  day  to  mentai  prayer,  confession  and 
praise — and  atfords  much  help  in  bringing  these 
matters  afresh  before  God,  giving  to  Him  the  glory 
due  for  assistance  in  duties,  as  well  as  mourning 
over  omissions.  Keep  in  mind,  dear,  that  you  are 
Christ's  servant,  and  that  you  have  to  glorify  Him, 
not  only  in  acts  strictly  religious,  but  also  by  dili- 
gently performing  the  duties  of  your  vocation  what- 
ever it  may  be.  The  true  leaven  leavens  the  whole 
lump.  Religion  consists  in  the  exercise  of  holy 
principles,  therefore,  no  external  consecration  to 
the  service  of  God  is  owned  of  Him,  if  not  the  re- 
sult of  the  hallowed  principles  which  He  bv  his 
Spirit  imparts,  when  He  regenerates  the  mind. 
Now,  we  can  certainly  by  faithful  self-scrutiny  as- 
certain, what  are  the  motives  which  induce  certain 
conduct,  and  when  the  affections  of  the  heart  to- 
wards God  are  cold,  and  lifelessness  robs  us  of  all 
enjoyment  in  duty,  still  let  us  equally  pursue  it, 
guided  by  the  same  holy  principles,  though  not 
wafted  along  by  the  sweet  gales  of  love.  With 
every  Christian  while  in  this  world,  there  will  be 
great  alternations  of  feeling,  but  religion  itself  does 
not  depend  on  feeling.    Of  course,  its  exercise  is 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  261 

greatly  assisted  by  a  warm  and  glowing  heart,  but 
the  cold  day  of  a  Christian's  life  tests  the  sincerity 
of  his  obedience.  If  we  serve  Him,  approach  Him, 
and  speak  of  Him,  only  when  the  heart  is  warm, 
there  is  reason  to  fear  the  flame  of  our  piety  may 
soon  be  extinguished.  But  when  coldness  in  God's 
service  grieves  us,  or  if  we  cannot  grieve,  that  very 
thing  distresses  us,  and  we  labor  to  discover  the 
cause  and  apply  the  remedy — that  precious  blood 
which  cleanses  from  all  sin,  and  that  divine  in- 
fluence which  first  quickened  the  soul  to  spiritual 
life — I  think  these  are  indubitable  marks  of  the 
Spirit's  work  on  the  heart,  and  of  adoption  into 
God's  happy,  redeemed  family.  A  deeper  acquaint- 
ance with  our  own  hearts,  and  with  Him  who  re- 
deemed us,  and  a  growing  conformity  to  Him  in 
our  whole  character  and  conduct,  are  evidences 
which  we  cannot  question ;  they  necessarily  include 
repentance,  faith,  and  love,  and  every  other  Chris- 
tian exercise.  May  you  and  I  experience  to  the 
full  the  extent  of  Christ's  glorious  work,  and  be 
strengthened  to  win  all  around  us,  both  by  example 
and  effort  to  Jesus. 

"  Believe  me,  my  sweet  child. 
Your  very  affectionate  friend, 

"  Martha  Sherman." 

A  young  person  who  had  been  singled  out  from 
an  ungodly  family  by  the  grace  of  God,  had  be- 
come the  subject  of  parental  opposition.  She  was 
one  who  had  arrived  at  years  of  discretion,  and 
gave  no  cause  of  complaint  at  home,  except  con- 
cerning the  law  of  her  God.  Among  other  annoy- 
ances, she  was  prohibited  by  her  mother  from 
attending  any  religious  services  during  the  week. 
She  asks  for  advice,  and  is  thus  instructed : — 


262 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


"  I  have  consulted  with  Mr.  Sherman,  my  dear 
young  friend,  on  the  subject  which  occasions  you 
so  much  anxiety ;  and  he  is  of  opinion,  that  it  is 
not  your  duty  to  give  up  your  week-day  privileges, 
for  these  reasons  ;  first,  the  commandment  is  to 
'obey  in  the  Lord,'  therefore,  when  the  parental 
command  is  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  those  bless- 
ings and  privileges  which  God  has  put  within  your 
reach,  or  to  do  that  which  is  displeasing  to  him, 
obedience,  then,  would  not  be  in  the  Lord.  Second- 
ly, if  no  other  duty  is  neglected  by  your  attendance 
at  the  house  of  prayer  in  the  week,  the  requirement 
is  unreasonable  ;  therefore,  as  you  are  of  an  age  to 
judge  what  is  proper  or  otherwise,  obedience  to  a 
command  which  arises  from  improper  motives  and 
causes,  is  not  binding.  Thirdly,  in  the  situation 
in  which  you  are  placed,  with  every  effort  being 
made  to  destroy  the  holy  principles  which  the  Spirit 
of  God  has  implanted  in  your  heart,  you  need 
strength  and  assistance  in  your  Christian  course 
from  every  divinely  appointed  means ;  and  as  God 
must  be  dishonored  by  a  lifeless,  uninfluential  pro- 
fession of  His  name,  it  is  your  duty  to  use  every 
help  to  prevent  dishonoring  Him,  and  to  cultivate 
that  exalted  piety  which  shall  glorify  Him  con- 
tinually. This  is,  I  think,  his  candid  opinion,  and 
on  second  thoughts  I  quite  agree  with  him  :  still,  I 
feel  your  situation  is  an  extremely  delicate  one, 
especially  as  reference  was  made  to  the  fifth  com- 
mand, in  connection  with  your  profession  of  religion. 
I  think  your  resolution  should  be  stated  to  your 
mother,  after  much  prayer  both  for  yourself  and 
for  her,  and  with  much  Christian  love  and  respect, 
remem.bering  that  obedience  is  required,  except 
where  the  command  interferes  with  God's  com- 
mands, and  I  would  advise  you  to  state  your  rea- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  263 


sons  for  acting  differently  to  her  desire.  May  this 
severe  trial,  my  dear  child,  be  sanctified  to  you. 
Your  Heavenly  Father  would  not  permit  it  were  it 
not  necessary  to  make  you  '  partaker  of  His  holi- 
ness.' Pray  to  be  enabled  to  view  it  as  the  apostle 
viewed  all  his  trials,  2  Cor.  iv.  17,  18.  Look 
through  the  trial,  and  beyond  it,  to  its  gracious  de- 
sign. Be  more  anxious  that  it  may  be  sanctified 
than  removed,  and  think  more  of  the  distressing 
condition  of  the  persecutor's  soul,  than  of  the  dis- 
tress she  occasions  you.  May  God  give  you  grace 
and  strength  to  glorify  Him  in  the  fires." 

Soon  after  her  residence  at  Surrey  Chapel,  she 
induced  several  young  ladies  of  the  congregation 
to  form  themselves  into  a  party,  who  should  meet 
once  a  month  at  each  other's  houses,  to  make  fancy 
articles  and  useful  clothing,  to  be  sent  out  to  a  se- 
lected station  of  the  London  Missionary  Society, 
either  as  gifts,  or  to  be  sold  there  for  the  benefit  of 
its  local  operations.  Most  of  these  young  persons 
being  also  members  of  the  Monthly  Bible  Class, 
they  had  at  these  meetings,  in  addition  to  their  or- 
dinary spiritual  tuition,  the  presence  and  assistance 
of  their  invaluable  president,  whenever  opportunity 
permitted.  Her  letters  to  them  of  various  dates, 
and  from  various  places,  show  how  much  she  sym- 
pathized in  missionary  efforts,  and  how  earnestly 
she  wished  a  missionary  spirit,  as  the  result  of  lively 
and  fervid  piety,  to  be  manifested  among  her  young 
friends.  Two  extracts  from  letters,  one  without  an 
address,  and  the  other  while  residing  at  Griifenberg, 
exhibit  her  faithfulness  to  her  Lord,  and  her  watch- 
fulness over  her  charge. 

"  The  last  object  of  my  letter,  though  not  the 
least,  was  to  enquire  if  it  can  possibly  be  true  that 
your  numbers  and  your  zeal  are  diminishing.  I 


I 


264 


THE  PASTORS  WIFE;  OR 


would  hope  it  is  a  mistake,  as  I  can  scarcely  sup- 
pose, that  when  we  are  called  to  renew  our  ener- 
gies, in  order  to  meet  the  increasing  demand  for 
missionaries,  to  be  more  earnest  in  prayer,  and  to 
cultivate  in  every  way  a  missionary  spirit,  the 
young  people  of  Surrey  Chapel  are  holding  back. 
Nothing  would  grieve  me  more  than  to  hear  that 
you  are  not  increasing  in  zeal,  in  numbers,  and  in 
spirituality.  If  the  cross  meet  us,  and  difficulties 
assail  us,  we  must  not  shrink  from  either,  but  bear 
in  mind  that  it  is  the  cause  of  Christ — of  Him  who 
purchased  us  with  His  own  blood,  in  which  we 
are  engaged,  and  each  must  stimulate  others,  and 
do  all  in  her  power  to  aid  His  work,  and  to  hasten 
on  the  glorious  promised  day,  when  'all  shall 
know  Him,  from  the  least  to  the  greatest.'  Be 
cautious  that  in  your  meetings  you  never  forget  the 
object  for  which  you  assemble,  viz.  to  aid  the  mission- 
ary cause  by  your  industry,  and  to  promote  a  mis- 
sionary spirit  in  each  other.  Guard  against  desul- 
tory conversation,  as  this  will  necessarily  defeat 
the  design  for  which  you  meet.  May  the  God  of 
love  fill  you  with  His  Spirit,  and  grant  that  the 
'  love  of  Christ  may  constrain'  you. 

"  I  write  what  is  nearest  my  heart,  rather  than 
news  of  this  wonderful  place,  because  that  intelli- 
gence you  have  received  from  other  quarters.  I 
have  heard,  with  great  regret,  that  the  Httle  mis- 
sionary working  party  is  not  well  attended.  Give 
my  most  affectionate  love  to  the  young  ladies,  and 
tell  them,  that  if  I  could  have  hoped  to  find  them 
all  assembled,  to  contribute,  by  their  industry,  and 
by  increased  acquaintance  with  the  importance  of 
missionary  operations,  to  send  the  glad  tidings  of 
salvation  to  the  iniUions  who  are  perishing  in  igno- 
rance of  the  only  way  of  salvation,  I  should  have 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  265 


said  '  Go  on,  not  mechanically,  but  as  working  for 
Him,  whose  cause  you  are  bound  by  every  tie  to 
promote.'  It  is  not  a  matter  of  choice,  whether 
you  may  or  may  not  unite  your  energies  to  bring 
on  the  promised  time,  when  '  All  shall  know  Him, 
from  the  least  to  the  greatest,'  and  to  send  to  your 
perishing  fellow-creatures  the  same  gospel  which, 
in  your  happier  land,  is  so  universally  known  and 
proclaimed ;  but  your  duty,  under  whatever  cir- 
cumstances you  may  be  placed.  It  is  not  the  hard 
bondage  of  a  slave  to  a  tyrannical  master  ;  Oh,  no! 
it  is  the  constraining  influence  of  the  love  of  Christ, 
which  calls  us  to  remember  His  own  words,  '  He 
that  gathereth  not  with  me  scattereth  abroad.'  The 
mind  in  which  a  hope  exists  that  a  Savior's  dying 
love  has  procured  its  deliverance  from  the  curse  of 
God,  and  united  it  to  Him  in  bonds  of  hallowed 
friendship,  and  that  believes  the  satisfaction  he  has 
made  to  the  Divine  Justice  avails  for  every  crea- 
ture that  will  embrace  His  salvation,  surely,  such  a 
mind  must  pant  to  make  known  the  glad  tidings  in 
some  way,  however  humble  the  contribution  be — 
whether  of  money,  time,  talents,  or  prayers,  it 
must  be  esteemed  a  rich  privilege  to  have  anything, 
to  do  with  the  great  work.  Oh,  I  desire  no  other 
influence  than  that  which  springs  from  the  love  of 
a  crucified  Savior.  Let  this  love  but  dwell  habitu- 
ally in  the  heart,  and  constantly  guide  its  possessor, 
and  I  fear  not  the  want  of  a  missionary  spirit.  Let 
us,  my  dear  friend,  be  more  earnest  in  prayer  for 
the  reviving  influences  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  to 
make  us  more  decided  for  God,  more  unflinching  in 
our  obedience,  more  established  in  the  truth  of  the 
gospel.  I  long  for  the  time  when  my  dear  young 
people  shall  truly  be  '  living  epistles,  known  and 
read  of  all.'    There  must  be  much  secret  prayer, 


266 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


much  devotional  study  of  the  sacred  vohune,  to  dis- 
cover the  glorious  character  of  God,  and  much  self- 
scrutiny,  if  we  would  be  Christians  indeed.  How 
mournful  would  it  be,  if  owned  of  the  church  of 
God  on  earth,  but  disowned  by  its  great  Head  :  the 
piercing  words,  '  If  any  man  have  not  the  Spirit  of 
Christ,  he  is  none  of  His' — '  Without  holiness  no 
man  shall  see  the  Lord' — call  loudly  to  us  to  '  ex- 
amine whether  we  be  in  the  faith.'  To  be  happy 
Christians,  we  must  be  growing  in  '  grace,  and  in 
the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus 
Christ.' " 

There  lie  before  the  writer  a  heap  of  notes,  which, 
from  an  ordinary  hand,  would  have  been  mere  no- 
tices that  the  meeting  was  to  be  held  at  her  house, 
with  an  invitation  to  attend  on  the  day  appointed  ; 
but  Mrs.  Sherman  made  each  a  vehicle  of  some 
important  advice,  caution,  or  exhortation,  adapted 
specially  to  the  case  of  the  young  person  to  whom 
it  was  addressed,  intended  to  form  habits  which 
would  adorn  the  Christian  lady,  while  the  cause  of 
Christ  among  the  heathen  was  ardently  promoted. 
One  will  serve  as  a  specimen. 

"I  am  anticipating  the  pleasure  of  receiving  the 
Missionary  Working  Party  on  Wednesday,  the  27th, 
when,  I  trust,  my  dear  young  friend,  nothing  will 
prevent  your  attendance,  and  may  I  add,  I  hope 
each  W'ill  be  in  the  dining-room  at  one  minute  before 
ten.  I  love  punctuality,  because  I  think  it  is  among 
the  '  lovely  things  which  the  Christian  is  to  pur- 
sue. God  is  a  Being  of  perfect  order  in  all  his  ar- 
rangements, and  in  proportion  as  the  power  of  sin 
is  weakened,  and  the  Divine  likeness  progressing 
in  the  soul,  we  shall  find  these  things  rise  in  im- 
portance in  our  estimation,  and  nothing  will  be  re- 
garded as  too  little  to  exercise  our  efforts,  which 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


267 


may  in  the  tiniest  degree  advance  us  nearer  to  the 
image  of  God.  A  mind  that  is  truly  great,  spurns 
not  the  little  things  which  have  (as  all  must  have) 
power  to  influence  its  habits,  and  to  promote  its 
true  loveliness.  Let  us,  my  dear  friends,  labor 
after  eminent  Christian  consistency,  and  a  close 
walk  with  God,  that  we  may  learn  more  of  His 
character  and  will^  and  '  grow  up  into  Him  in  all 
things.'  I  am  very  anxious  to  see  more  fruit  arise 
out  of  our  little  party,  which  was  designed  to  pro- 
mote personal  and  relative  piety,  as  well  as  a  mis- 
sionary spirit ;  these  objects  cannot  be  advanced  by 
merely  meeting  together ;  much  prayer  must  ac- 
company any  efforts  or  means  that  the  blessing  may 
be  bestowed.  And  I  trust  that  the  Spirit  of  prayer 
and  effort  may  be  granted  to  us  all  at  our  antici- 
pated meeting." 

Mrs.  Sherman  had  long  felt  that  this  little  happy 
missionary  party  was  not  sufficiently  extensive  to 
represent  all  the  females  of  the  congregation,  and, 
therefore,  wished  to  form  another,  to  embrace  every 
class.  She  believed  that  where  fervent  piety  ex- 
ists, it  will  make  its  possessor  anxious  to  save  the 
souls  of  others,  and  as  the  miseries  and  wants  of 
the  heathen  are  brought  before  the  Christian,  his 
piety  will  increase,  and  his  sympathy  and  love  be 
drawn  out  for  their  deliverance.  Her  own  spirit 
w^is  eminently  missionary.  "  I  gain  much,"  she 
writes,  "  by  union  with  the  Missionary  Society,  for 
what  little  piety  I  have  is  greatly  increased  by  the 
accounts  forwarded,  month  by  month,  of  its  opera- 
tions in  heathen  lands.  I  learn  how  grace  can  tri- 
umjih  over  the  most  degraded  specimens  of  my 
l  ace ;  I  see  how  missionaries,  my  brethren  and  sis- 
ters, can,  amidst  privation  and  suffering  wholly  un- 
known to  us,  '  endure  as  seeing  Him  who  is  invisi- 


268 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


ble' — I  behold  real  religion  producing  the  same 
gracious  effects  in  the  untutored  savage,  when  it 
once  gains  an  entrance,  as  in  the  most  refined — 
and  above  all,  I  have  proof  furnished  that  Christ 
confines  not  the  manifestation  of  his  love  to  any 
particular  class  of  men  or  station  ;  but  gives  to  the 
barbarian,  bond  or  free,  support  in  trouble,  comfort 
strong  and  abiding,  and  visions  of  glory,  which  en- 
able them  to  die  triumphantly.  Who  can  read  tlie 
accounts  of  the  sacrifices  which  these  newly 
awakened  Christians  make — the  persecutions  they 
endure — their  glorious  translations  to  another 
wwld,  without  rejoicing  in  the  sufficiency  of  the 
atonement — the  efficacy  of  the  Spirit's  work,  and 
the  sure  foundation  laid  for  the  confidence  and  joy 
of  every  sinner  under  heaven  ?  I  am  sure  I  love 
Jesus  Christ  more  every  missionary  meeting  I  at- 
tend. I,  therefore,  ought  to  support  missionary 
enterprises,  because  I  gain  much  by  them." 

With  such  views,  it  will  not  create  surprise  that 
she  was  anxious  to  promote  a  similar  spirit  univer- 
sally among  professing  Christians,  and  especially 
among  females,  that  for  their  own  sakes  they  might 
inculcate  on  the  minds  of  their  children  and  rela- 
tives lessons  of  love  to  the  heathen.  Yet  she  saw 
and  felt  the  force  of  many  objections  urged  by  some 
whose  piety  could  not  be  questioned,  and  who  had 
already  manifested  their  decided  attachment  to  mis- 
sionary effort.  In  order  to  give  them  an  opportu- 
nity oif  stating  their  reasons  against  the  formation 
of  a  more  indiscriminate  assembly,  and  to  hear  the 
arguments  of  others  in  its  favor,  with  her  usual 
prudence,  she  summoned  a  meeting  for  conference 
and  prayer,  the  result  and  improvement  of  which 
she  sent  to  her  Sunday  afternoon  class,  in  the  fol- 
lowing judicious  letter : 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


269 


"  Surrey  Parsonage,  October  IQth,  1845. 
"  I  mentioned  to  you,  my  beloved  young  friends, 
that  I  expected  to  meet  several  friends  on  the  pro- 
posed plan  of  forming  a  Missionary  Working  Asso- 
ciation for  the  congregation  generally,  whether 
young  or  old,  rich  or  poor,  who  would  subscribe  to 
it  from  a  shilling  a  year  and  upwards.  Accordingly, 
those  who  were  against  it,  as  well  as  those  who 
were  for  it,  consulted  together,  and  the  friends  in 
favor  of  it  succeeded  ;  but  as  there  is,  alas  !  no  per- 
fection here,  and  the  best  designs  may  prove  evil, 
if  not  judiciously  carried  out,  I  feel  particularly 
anxiovs  that  the  objections  which  have  been  sug- 
gested as  likely  to  prevail,  may  be  doubly  guarded 
against.  It  is  probable  that  many  among  my  dear 
class  may  join  the  society,  and  as  I  hope  I  have  a 
degree  of  influence  over  them,  which  I  have  not 
over  others  less  known  to  me,  I  am  anxious  to  use 
that  influence  to  guard  them  against  the  abuse  of 
that  which  may,  rightly  used,  prove  a  great  privi- 
lege. The  danger  which  many  friends  anticipate 
is,  that  home  duties,  less  agreeable  than  these  little 
meetings  will  be  neglected  ;  that  the  young  people 
will  be  tempted  to  leave  to  their  mothers  the  share 
of  domestic  employments  which  properly  devolves 
on  the  daughters,  whose  pleasure  it  ought  to  be 
not  only  to  do  what  they  must,  but  all  they  can,  to 
help  their  parents.  I  see  how  possible  it  is  that 
this  may  be  the  case,  and  therefore  warn  my  dear 
young  friends  in  the  class,  who  know  my  opinions 
of  the  fallacy  and  emptiness  of  that  profession  of 
religion  which  is  not  accompanied  by  great  dili- 
gence in  every  duty  of  our  station.  My  object  in 
desiring  this  society  is,  that  personal  piety  may  be 
promoted,  by  a  greater  acquaintance  with  the  suf- 
ferings and  privations  of  the  heathen,  who  are 


270 


THE   PASTORS   WIFE)  OR 


'  without  God  in  the  world.'  My  plan,  therefore, 
is  to  keep  the  subject  of  missions  only  before  us  all 
the  time  we  are  together ;  to  meet  from  five  to 
eight  in  the  evening,  once  a  month,  to  get  a  mis- 
sionary whenever  we  can,  and  when  we  cannot,  to 
select  reading  on  the  subjects  of  interest  connected 
with  the  station  for  which  we  are  working.  As 
Christians  are  to  set  an  example  to  the  heathen,  I 
am  very  anxious  that  the  needlework  be  good,  and 
worthy  of  happy  English  women.  The  particulars 
and  rules  will  shortly  be  printed,  when  you  shall 
see  them,  and  subscribers  be  supplied  with  them. 
We  hope  to  commence  the  first  week  in  January, 
each  subscriber  to  receive  a  card  to  bring  in  as 
many  more  subscribers  to  the  society,  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  I  mean,  as  we  can  procure.  I 
shall  be  glad  if  my  dear  class  will  make  it  known 
as  far  as  they  can,  as  I  am  not  sure  that  it  can  be 
publicly  announced.  Now,  let  my  dear  friends 
unitedly  suppHcate  a  blessing  on  this  new  effort  to 
promote  a  missionary  spirit  amongst  us.  In  pro- 
portion as  we  grow  in  the  Divine  likeness,  the  ob- 
jects that  are  dear  to  the  Eternal  mind  are  dear  to 
us.  His  one  intense  desire  is  the  salvation  of  a 
ruined  world,  by  sending  it  the  glad  tidings  that 
Jesus  Christ  '  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which 
was  lost.'  Let  it  be  our  business  to  carry  out  this 
object,  first  by  securing  the  salvation  of  our  own 
souls,  then  by  efforts  and  prayers  for  others  at 
home  and  abroad,  and  part  of  those  efforts  must  be 
the  force  of  a  consistent  Christian  example.  Such 
may  my  dear  class  ever  present,  that  God  may  be 
glorified." 

This  was  the  last  Association  she  was  permitted 
to  establish:  her  health  having  declined  very  ra- 
pidly from  the  time  of  its  formation,  she  was  not 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


271 


allowed  to  attend  its  first,  or  any  subsequent  meet- 
ing, yet  she  had  the  joy  to  learn  that  a  large  num- 
ber joined  immediately,  and  that  it  progressed  in 
usefulness  to  themselves  and  the  heathen.  God 
give  to  its  members  the  spirit  of  perseverance  and 
devotion  to  missionary  objects,  which  their  presi- 
dent so  richly  enjoyed ! 


272 


THE' pastor's  wife;  or 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF  HER  ILLNESS,  AND  HER 
SOJOURN  AT  BRIGHTON  AND  VENTNOR. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  184-5,  the  clear  sub- 
ject of  this  Memoir  took  cold  from  exposure  to 
bleak  winds,  in  consequence  of  insufficient  clothing, 
which  produced  a  greater  irritation  of  her  constitu- 
tional cough  than  was  customary,  and  she  paid  a 
visit  to  some  old  friends  at  Tunbridge  Wells,  in 
hope  that  the  genial  atmosphere  of  that  healthful 
spot  would  remove  the  threatening  symptoms. 
Notwithstanding  the  kind  attentions  of  her  friends, 
the  cough  increased  in  violence  ;  and  soon  after  her 
return  home,  Dr.  Risdon  Bennett  was  consulted. 
The  remedies  which  he  prescribed  greatly  relieved 
her,  but  after  a  few  weeks  disease  again  began  to 
show  itself  in  such  fearful  prostration  of  strength, 
that  the  anxiety  of  those  who  knew  the  value  of 
the  precious  saint  it  attacked,  was  greatly  increased. 
Additional  advice  was  sought  from  Sir  James  Clark, 
who  gave  his  reluctant  but  decided  opinion,  that 
her  lungs  were  affected  ;  yet  he  believed  that  with 
care,  and  the  adoption  of  immediate  remedies,  her 
life  might  be  prolonged  for  many  years.  The  month 
of  December  was  exceedingly  mild  and  sunny,  and 
the  doctors  thought  that  a  residence  in  Brighton, 
till  January,  if  the  weather  continued  so  favorable, 
would  renovate  her  strength,  and  mitigate,  if  not 
remove  her  cough — thither  she  accordingly  went, 
to  a  house  selected  for  its  adaptation  to  her  condi- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  273 


tion.  The  bright  beams  of  the  heavenly  luminary 
cheered  her  spirit,  and  the  air,  balmy  as  the  breezes 
of  May,  gave  her  its  zephyrs,  and  infused  some 
little  vigor  into  her  frame.  As  any  exposure  to  the 
atmosphere  invariably  provoked  the  cough,  she 
could  not  leave  the  house  without  an  Orinasal 
Respirator,  which  proved  an  unspeakable  comfort, 
allaying  the  irritation,  and  enabling  her  to  take 
such  exercise  as  the  violence  of  the  cough  would 
otherwise  have  prevented.  Seated  in  a  wheel- 
chair, she  enjoyed  the  ride  on  the  parade  by  the 
beach,  and  her  cheerful,  hopeful,  joyous  spirit, 
made  her  husband  believe  that  a  little  time  only 
would  be  required  to  restore  her  failing  energies. 
Her  state  of  mind  at  this  time  cannot  be  better 
described  than  in  her  own  language. 

To  a  young  lady  in  delicate  health,  she  writes : — 

"  JVovember  4th,  1845. 

"  I  plead  with  you  to  take  care  of  your  health, 
that  you  may  have  the  honor  of  serving  God  for 
many  years,  and  not  be  called  in  youth,  to  bear 
instead  of  to  do  the  will  of  your  heavenly  Father. 
As  we  grow  in  grace,  we  prize  more  our  opportu- 
nities and  privileges,  and  do  not  sentimentalize  on 
the  joys  of  an  early  removal  from  this  world. 
When  our  Christian  character  advances,  we  shall 
unceasingly  breathe  after  heaven,  as  we  catch  more 
of  the  spirit  of  heaven ;  but  it  seems  to  me  more 
heaven-like  to  seek  to  'spend  and  be  spent'  for 
Christ  here,  with  the  anticipation  of  being  at  last 
*  for  ever  with  the  Lord.'  " 

To  another,  whose  love  and  kindness  she  much 
valued : — 

"  Movember  21st,  1845. 
"  Thank  you,  dear,  for  the  many  kind  and  un- 

0 


274 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


deserved  expressions  in  your  note.  I  deeply  feel 
that  I  am,  and  have  been  a  '  curaberer  of  the 
ground,'  and  I  can  only  wonder  why  I  was  planted 
in  so  fruitful  a  soil,  where  heavenly  dews  and  sun 
abound:  where  neighboring  trees  yield  their  luxu- 
riant fruit  to  the  glory  of  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard, 
though  all  of  them,  even  at  the  best,  ill  repaying 
the  pains  and  culture  He  has  bestowed.  Well  may 
He  say  of  me,  '  Cut  it  down,  why  cumbereth  it  the 
ground.'  Year  after  year  has  He  gently  dug  about 
my  roots,  with  the  same  instrument  with  which  He 
will,  I  think,  eventually  cut  me  down.  Yet  I  can- 
not imagine  wrath  in  the  stroke  ;  not  in  judgment, 
but  in  Infinite  wisdom,  and  for  the  rousing  and 
benefit  of  others,  that  my  removal  might  effect  in- 
strumentally  what  my  lifeless  presence  has  failed 
to  do.  Pray  for  me,  my  dear  friend,  that  energy 
and  spirituality  may  be  produced  by  the  Spirit  of 
Life  in  my  dead  soul,  and  that  ray  few  remaining 
days  may  be  really,  what  my  heart  has  desired  and 
professed  past  days  to  be,  wholly  and  entirely  the 
Lord's.  May  every  blessing  be  yours,  and  grow- 
ing devotcdness  to  his  lovely  cause." 

The  kind  attentions  of  many  friends  in  preparing 
for  her  such  delicacies  as  they  thought  her  failing 
appetite  could  take,  drew  forth  many  effusions  of 
gratitude,  such  as  the  following : — 

"  37,  King's  Road,  Brighton,  Dec.  11th,  1845. 
"My  dear  Friend, 

"  What  can  I  say  to  you  for  your  kind  present, 
received  through  my  dearest  husband  ?  I  greatly 
feel  your  aff'ectionate  remembrance  of  me  in  my 
time' of  affliction,  of  'light  afffiction'  indeed,  for 
there  is  so  very  much  mercy  mingled  with  it,  that 
the  difficulty  sometimes  is  to  know  whether  that 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


275 


can  be  an  affliction  in  which  faith  brings  me  the 
enjoyment  of  so  many  precious  things  as  realities, 
which  it  only  recognized  before.  '  The  things 
which  are  seen,'  the  '  temporal,'  may  be  gloomy — 
they  are  so,  viewed  alone — but  we  are  not  to  look 
at  them :  that  would  be  to  complain  of  the  defects 
of  the  casket,  which  contained  a  precious  jewel. 
The  '  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory'  is  '  wrought  by  affliction,'  while  we  look  not 
at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things 
which  are  unseen  and  '  eternal.'  Who  would  look 
at  the  dark  cloud,  except  for  the  lovely  rainbow 
upon  it  ?  the  bow  is  not  seen  when  the  cloud  is  not 
there :  and  what  lovely  hues  of  His  character  are 
displayed  who  'puts  His  bow  in  the  cloud'  of  our 
darkest  affliction.  Ah !  it  is  well,  if  a  Father's 
hand  smites.  He  has  blessings  in  reserve,  and  I 
will  wait  and  hope  for  them,  and  welcome  health, 
if  He  shall  please  to  grant  me  that  too.  I  am  weak 
indeed,  physically  and  spiritually,  but  while  there 
is  the  promise  of  spiritual  strength  equal  to  my  day,  I 
can  bear  the  other  cheerfully.  How  I  love  the  dear 
Surrey  people,  for  their  kind  prayerful  interest  in 
one  so  unworthy  of  their  regard  !  With  kindest 
love  to  your  circle,  believe  me,  my  dear  friend, 
"  Yours  very  sincerely, 

"  Martha  Sherman." 

As  soon  as  her  illness  assumed  a  threatening  as- 
pect, which  the  air  of  Brighton  did  not  remove,  the 
church  met  to  supplicate  the  Father  of  mercies  to 
interpose  his  gracious  hand,  ai)d  if  it  pleased  Him, 
to  restore  her  to  health  and  usefulness.  The  mo- 
thers over  whom  she  had  presided  had  repeated 
concerts  for  prayer,  and  sent  her  some  precious  sen- 


276 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


timents  of  sympathy  and  love — to  which  she  thus 
replies : — 

"  37,  King's  Road,  December  12th. 
"My  beloved  Friend, 
"  What  can  I  say  in  return  for  the  kind  and  af- 
fectionate expression  of  the  sympathy  of  the  dear 
Maternal  band,  which  your  welcome  letter  con- 
tains ?  I  would  write  my  sense  of  it  to  them  gene- 
rally, but  the  poor  mind  sympathizes  with  the  body 
in  its  weakness,  and  it  is  a  mental  effort  to  which 
I  am  unequal ;  but  you  will  express  for  me  what  you 
know  my  heart  feels,  and  how  cheered  I  am  by  the 
kind  remembrance  of  me  which  has  been  shown  by 
them,  in  common  with  all  the  dear  church  at  Sur- 
rey. It  is  sweet  to  find  a  special  errand  to  our 
Father's  throne,  and  to  be  borne  there  by  so  many 
Christian  hearts.  I  am  perfectly  amazed  at  the  un- 
merited interest  of  my  dear  friends,  and  it  humbles 
me  to  know  how  little  I  have  practically  shown  the 
deep  interest  I  feel  in  them.  How  little  I  have  im- 
proved the  many  opportunities  of  exercising  useful 
influence  over  them,  in  exciting  to  more  eminent 
devotedness,  and  to  closer  walking  with  God.  Ah  ! 
my  loved  friend !  I  dare  not  say,  should  my  hea- 
venly Father  restore  my  health,  how  different  shall 
my  future  course  be,  but  I  would  rather  plead,  that 
such  a  sanctified  result  of  His  chastisement  may  be 
granted ;  that  so  I  may  act,  and  my  desires  be  no 
longer  floating  imaginations  only,  but  practical, 
uniform  labors,  to  draw  all  within  my  reach  to 
Jesus.  Surely  if  the  prayers  of  your — our — dear 
Maternal  band  '  coipe  up  as  a  memorial  before 
God,'  I  shall,  if  not  restored  to  bodily  health,  yet 
receive  that  measure  of  spiritual  vigor,  Avhich  I  so 
much  need.    May  the  dear  hearts  that  remember 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


277 


me  be  ever  on  the  heart  of  our  adorable  Intercessor 
before  the  throne,  and  all  meet  Him  there,  to  unite 
in  one  song  for  ever." 

In  reply  to  some  kind  and  anxious  enquiries,  she 
thus  addresses  one  of  her  father's  servants. 

"  December  ISth,  1845. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  for  your  kind  anxiety  on 
my  account.  How  delightful  to  know  in  whose 
hands  my  life  and  health  are.  Who  can  be  anxious 
in  such  hands?  I  cannot  wish  any  other  appoint- 
ment than  his  own.  Reports  from  Surrey  say,  my 
illness  has  already  been  blest  to  many,  in  rousing 
them  to  more  prayer  and  diligence.  Is  it  not  then 
worth  while  to  suffer,  if  God  be  glorified  by  it  ? 
While  others  are  being  watered  by  it,  pray  for  me 
that  my  own  vineyard  may  not  miss  the  heavenly 
shower,  and  perish  in  barrenness  and  fruitlessness." 

A  young  lady,  a  member  of  one  of  her  classes, 
had  gathered  around  her  a  number  of  Jewish  chil- 
dren, to  whose  instruction  in  useful  and  religious 
knowledge  she  devoted  herself.  Mrs.  Sherman 
took  the  deepest  interest  in  this  class,  first  from  a 
special  love  to  the  children  of  Israel,  and  next  from 
the  indefatigable  zeal  and  perseverance  which 
prompted  her  young  friend,  amidst  great  difficul- 
ties and  discouragements,  to  proceed  in  her  work 
of  faith.    She  thus  encourages  her: — 

"December  24th,  1845. 
"I  think  you  have  no  reason  to  be  cast  down 
about  your  dear  Jews.  Think  what  they  were — 
what  they  now  are — and  what  they  are  likely  to 
become,  through  the  influence  of  the  prayer  of 
faith  accompanying  the  valuable  instructions  al- 
ready imparted.  It  is  neither  the  planter  nor  the 
24 


I 


278 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


waterer,  but  the  Spirit  which  you  seek,  that  shall 
take  the  veil  from  their  hearts.  I  often  think  the 
efforts  for  them  are  like  one  expecting  the  rising 
sun.  While  gazing  and  watching  for  the  lovely 
and  much-desired  orb,  his  eyes  get  dazzled  with 
the  brightness  of  the  clouds  which  give  promise  of 
his  rising.  He  watches  till  he  can  watch  no  longer, 
and  turns  his  eyes  to  objects  less  brilliant,  but 
nearer  at  hand.  While  he  is  thus  engaged,  the 
sun  rises,  but  he  sees  it  not,  till  the  warmth  and 
brightness  it  diffuses,  rouse  him  to  turn  again  and 
look.  So  we  wait  and  pray  for  Israel's  salvation, 
but  again  and  again  are  disheartened,  because  the 
bright  promises  which  first  encouraged  us  to  pray 
and  watch,  yet  remain  unfulfilled,  though  the  voice 
that  spoke  them  assures  us  they  certainly  shall  be 
performed;  and  while  our  unbelief  leads  us  often 
to  turn  our  eyes  to  more  tangible  and  visible  fruits, 
or  prospects  of  fruits,  the  event  occurs,  the  veil  is 
removed  from  their  heart,  and  we  perceive  it  not, 
till  the  sweet  results  of  Israel's  turning  to  the  Lord, 
gladden  the  whole  world.  You  have  watched  long 
for  the  answers  to  our  united  Thursday's  prayers 
for  your  little  class,  and  your  dear  heart  seems 
failing,  just  at  the  moment  when  the  improvement 
and  the  remarks  of  the  children,  seem  to  indicate  a 
state  of  mind  preparing  to  welcome  Christ,  the 
once  despised  '  Nazarene,'  as  their  Savior.  Be 
not  discouraged,  dear:  expect  great  things.  One 
converted  Jewish  child  may  be  one  of  the  instru- 
ments God  shall  employ.  'A  nation  shall  be  born 
in  a  day.'  Go  on,  my  beloved  girl,  and  expect  to 
see  those  children  in  heaven ;  then  I  believe  you 
will  labor  more  diligently,  and  pray  more  fervently 
for  them." 

The  following  extract  shows  the  heart  of  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


279 


mother — the  loving,  praying,  believing  mother : — 
"  The  dear  children  are  remarkably  well,  and  baby 
the  very  best  baby  that  can  be.  I  never  saw  so 
good  a  child.  I  trust  she  will  grow  up  as  good  as 
she  now  is.  Perhaps  I  may  not  live  to  see  her  a 
woman,  but  I  believe  she  will  be  owned  of  Him,  to 
whom  she  was  given  long  before  she  was  born ; 
and  if  He  '  take  her  up,'  as  David  says,  I  need  not 
fear,  if  I  go  home  first,  that  my  children  will  fol- 
low me  in  due  time." 

In  the  month  of  January  she  returned  to  the  Par- 
sonage, without  any  material  improvement.  The 
continued  violence  of  the  cough,  and  increased 
prostration  of  strength,  yielded  only  fearful  antici- 
pations of  what  the  result  must  ultimately  be. 
Still,  as  so  much  depends  on  using  remedial  mea- 
sures in  the  early  stages  of  pthisis,  a  consultation 
of  physicians  was  thought  desirable,  and  Sir  James 
Clark,  Dr.  Chambers,  and  Dr.  Latham,  met  on  her 
case  in  the  early  part  of  February.  They  were 
united  in  opinion  that  disease  existed  extensively  in 
one  lung,  and  that  a  removal  to  a  purer  air  was 
essential  to  improvement.  They  by  no  means 
thought  the  case  hopeless,  if  great  care  were  exer- 
cised and  the  cough  could  be  subdued.  With  re- 
spect to  that  part  of  the  country  in  which  the  pa- 
tient might  be  located,  the  ease  and  comfort  of  her 
mind,  as  well  as  body,  were  to  be  consulted — if  it 
was  too  far  for  her  husband  often  to  be  with  her, 
solitariness  would  be  likely  to  destroy  what  good 
air  might  effect.  They  therefore  determined  that, 
all  things  considered,  Ventnor  offered  most  advan- 
tages, for  its  climate  and  proximity  to  London,  and 
accordingly  she  went  thither  with  her  husband, 
youngest  child,  and  nurse,  in  the  first  week  in 
February. 


280 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


In  a  small  memorandum  book,  the  following  note 
written  in  pencil,  after  she  arrived  at  Ventnor,  ex- 
hibits the  calm  resignation  of  her  spirit  to  the  will 
of  God,  and  the  rich  enjoyment  she  possessed  of 
liis  gracious  presence. 

February  10th. — "Left  dear  Surrey  for  Ventnor, 
by  the  advice  of  Sir  J.  Clark,  Drs.  Latham  and 
Chambers.  Felt  it  a  trying  decree,  but  much  re- 
lieved by  the  confidence  that  a  loving  Father  saw 
it  bfst  for  me ;  no  severe  chastisement  of  an  angry 
God,  but  a  Father's  needed  discipline.  Much 
cheered  by  his  dealings — taking  so  much  trouble 
with  me,  to  prepare  me  for  the  enjoyment  of  him- 
self on  earth,  and  at  last  in  heaven,  where  the  ser- 
vice and  worship  shall  no  more  be  impeded  by 
disease  and  weakness.  I  would  record  my  enjoy- 
ment in  the  chair  on  Ryde  Pier ;  I  thought,  perhaps 
as  silently,  but  unconsciously,  I  might  be  borne 
back  again,  no  more  to  see  my  beloved  earthly 
home,  but  to  be  laid  by  my  dear  mother's  side,  to 
await  the  voice  of  the  archangel ;  yet  felt  satis- 
fied, that  if  it  were  so  ordered,  it  would  be,  and  it 
was  better,  and  more  for  God's  glory  that  it  should 
be  so:  therefore,  checked  the  rising  thought  of 
those,  whose  dear  hearts  might  desire  my  stay,  and 
who  seem  to  need  it.  That  is  not  necessary  which 
God  withdraws  in  love." 

The  last  private  record  which  she  permitted  to 
be  preserved,  immediately  follows  the  preceding. 

February  12th. — "  Dear  husband  left — watched 
the  coach  with  its  beloved  passenger  to  the  top  of 
the  hill  at  Bonchurch,  and  committed  him  to  Him 
whose  word  is  enough  for  his  protection.  Took  a 
solitary  walk  to  divert  my  mind — most  lovely 
scenery.  He  who  created  the  hills  is  my  Beloved 
and  my  Friend.    Saw  a  poor  Jew,  and  longed  to 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


281 


speak  to  him,  but  could  not  with  my  respirator, 
yet  enjoyed  prayer  for  him.  '  Lord  let  a  Savior's 
blood  be  on  him,  not  as  a  curse,  but  as  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sins 
of  the  world.'  " 

As  the  St.  Boniface  Hotel  yielded  so  many  com- 
forts, and  relieved  her  of  all  domestic  care,  she 
preferred  remaining  in  the  rooms  she  first  occupied, 
during  her  residence  in  that  lovely  spot.  The 
mildness  of  the  atmosphere  at  first  greatly  relieved 
her  cough,  and  favorable  symptoms  excited  the 
liveliest  hopes ;  but  they  alternated  so  much,  that 
it  was  difficult  to  say  whether  real  advances  were 
made  towards  recovery.  She  believed  herself  bet- 
ter— her  appetite  improved,  a  less  beauteous  flush 
adorned  her  cheek — her  capacity  for  walking  in- 
creased, and  the  tone  of  general  health  was  more 
vigorous — the  cough,  however,  did  not  lessen  its 
attacks,  and  some  of  its  spasms  brought  her  very 
low — stealing  from  her  all  the  strength  the  change 
of  scene  and  climate  had  bestowed. 

Several  circumstances  contributed  to  render  her 
residence  at  Ventnor  very  interesting,  both  to  her- 
self and  some  of  its  residents.  The  ministry  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Warden,  when  she  was  able  to  attend, 
was  refreshing  to  her  spirit,  especially  as  the  chief 
subject  of  his  preaching  was  the  cross,  to  which 
her  heart  clung  as  her  only  refuge,  with  even  more 
tenacity  than  ever  during  her  affliction.  His  pas- 
toral visits  with  those  of  the  clergyman  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Medway,  tended  greatly  to  compensate 
for  the  loss  of  Christian  ordinances,  and  to  sustain 
and  exhibit  the  flame  of  piety  which  a  weak  body 
often  conceals  from  the  view  of  the  sufferer.  A 
little  band  of  Christian  mothers,  whose  spirits  were 
alive  to  the  welfare  of  Christ's  cause,  occasionally 
24* 


282 


THE  pastor's  wife;  OR 


saw  her,  when  she  was  able  to  converse,  and  her 
entreaties  prevailed  with  them  to  establish  a  Ma- 
ternal Society,  which  progressed  in  usefulness  and 
comfort,  and  continues  in  efficiency  to  the  present 
time. 

"  I  hope,"  she  writes,  "  to  form  a  Maternal  Asso- 
ciation in  this  room  in  a  few  days ;  I  am  quietly 
working  at  it.    The  great  difficulty  is  to  find  some 

suitable  person  to  superintend  it.    Mrs.   has 

been  suggested,  but  she  is  neither  a  mother  nor 
motherly.  The  tradesmen's  wives  are  quite  encou- 
raging in  their  response  to  the  proposition,  and  I 
think  it  would  much  promote  union  and  love,  as 
well  as  piety  in  the  congregation.  Pray  for  me, 
my  dear  friend,  that  I  may  be  guided  and  assisted 
in  the  little  effort." 

One  day,  while  resting  on  a  stile  near  Bonchurch, 
a  young  widow  passed,  and  by  her  appearance  in- 
dicated that  she  had  not  long  known  that  mourn- 
ful condition.  Pity  instantly  moved  the  heart  of 
Mrs.  Sherman  towards  the  disconsolate  stranger, 
whose  enquiry  respecting  her  health  afforded  the 
pastor's  wife  an  opportunity  for  further  conversa- 
tion. In  the  melting  tones  of  her  tender  voice  she 
expressed  her  sympathy  for  the  recent  loss  and  pre- 
sent circumstances  of  the  widow ;  which  seemed  to 
meet  the  desires  of  a  heart  longing  to  tell  its  griefs 
to  the  benevolent  mind,  of  whose  kindness  the 
soothing  words  that  fell  from  those  gracious  lips 
were  the  evidence.  This  is  her  deeply  interesting 
recital  of  the  event : — 

"  I  walked  this  morning  alone  to  Bonchurch,  and 
felt  very  tired  ;  seeing  a  stile  rather  farther  on,  I  sat 
there.  As  I  rested  I  thought  how  humbling  it  was 
to  be  literally  disabled  by  my  respirator  from  speak- 
ing to  any  of  the  poor  I  met ;  while  trying  to  get 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


283 


some  useful  lesson  from  it,  a  widow  and  child, 
whom  I  had  not  seen  before,  came  up,  and  seeing 
me,  kindly  enquired  after  my  health ;  after  a  few 
general  observations  she  was  moving  on,  saying,  as 
she  bowed  her  leave  of  me,  '  it  must  be  a  trial  to 
you  to  be  alone  in  Ventnor.'  I  simply  replied, 
'  Your  trial  is  greater  than  mine ;  but  if  we  both 
know  and  love  Him  who  tries  us,  our  trials  will  be 
sweetened,  will  they  not  ?'  She  immediately  said, 
'  Oh  !  that  is  what  I  want  to  understand.'  I  asked 
permission  to  join  her,  as  she  was  going  home,  and 
I  shall  not  soon  forget  that  walk,  the  eagerness 
with  which  she  sought  instruction,  and  the  liberty 
that  was  given  me  in  placing  the  gospel  before  her. 
I  believe  my  respirator  helped  my  freedom,  and  I 
seem  now  quite  satisfied  %it  God  has  given  me 
something  to  do  here,  worth  all  the  trial  of  coming. 
She  begs  that  I  will  allow  her  further  conversation 
another  day,  which  you  may  be  sure  I  will.  In- 
deed, it  seemed  altogether  so  arranged,  and  so 
timed,  that  I  cannot  but  hope  an  unseen  hand  di- 
rected us  to  meet.  You  will  entreat  for  her  and 
for  me,  that  I  may  be  assisted  to  guide  her,  for  she 
seems  very  ignorant,  though,  as  she  says,  '  longing 
to  be  converted  ;'  and  that  her  heart  may  be  open- 
ed to  receive  the  truth  in  its  sweet  simplicity.  I 
am  much  interested  in  the  servants,  too — I  hope  to 
get  at  them  thoroughly  soon — I  have  had  much 
conversation  with  one,  and  I  believe  she  feels  some 
interest.  God  meant  more  in  sending  me  here,  and 
in  trials  generally  He  intends  more  than  individual 
benefit.  It  is  for  us  to  watch  His  working,  that  we 
may  work  with  Him,  and  promote  all  the  objects 
He  designs.  If  I  may  but  help  another  to  heaven,  I 
shall  not  think  it  so  painful  to  be  separated  from 
my  dear  home." 


284 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


Finding  her  message  acceptable,  she  followed  up 
this  first  interview  by  successive  meetings,  in  which 
she  endeavored  to  explain  to  her  willing  disciple 
"  the  way  of  God  more  perfectly." 

"  I  am  increasingly  interested  in  my  widow  ;  she 
usually  spends  from  seven  to  eight  in  the  evening 
with  me:  think  of  us,  then.  I  am  endeavoring  to 
instruct  her  thoroughly  in  the  great  doctrines  of  the 
gospel,  for  I  fear  unless  her  mind,  as  well  as  her 
heart  is  influenced,  the  snares  around  her  will 
prove  sadly  injurious.  Every  truth  is  new,  and  she 
drinks  in  instruction  with  great  delight." 

She  made  this  widow's  case  a  subject  of  entreaty 
with  God,  that  He  would  be  pleased  to  compen- 
sate the  loss  of  her  creature  comfort,  by  taking  up 
His  residence  in  her  h*rt ;  she  wrote  to  several  of 
her  friends  to  engage  their  prayers  on  behalf  of  the 
"  hopeful  enquirer,"  and  commended  her  to  Chris- 
tians in  the  vicinity,  entreating  them  to  watch  over 
the  buddings  of  piety  which  had  begun  to  appear. 
Mrs.  Sherman  was  soon  convinced,  that  repentance 
for  sin,  especially  for  neglected  opportunities,  and 
faith  in  Christ,  though  "  as  a  grain  of  mustard- 
seed,"  existed  in  that  spirit,  whose  previously  un- 
friendly habits,  and  present  hindrances  to  decision, 
rendered  her,  to  all  human-appearance,  a  most  un- 
likely person  ever  to  taste  of  gospel  privileges.  A 
period  of  two  years  confirmed  the  accuracy  of  her 
judgment ;  and  a  short  time  before  her  death,  she 
"  bequeathed  the  widow's  soul  as  a  legacy"  to  a 
Christian  friend,  to  be  watched  over  and  trained  for 
God.  Subsequent  events  have  brought  her  to 
London,  where  she  is  associated  as  a  member  with 
the  church  of  Christ  at  Surrey  Chapel,  and  walks 
before  God  to  the  comfort  of  her  pastor's  heart — 
as  a  living  memorial  of  the  precious  saint  who  won 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


285 


her  soul  for  Christ,  and  a  striking  illustration  of 
the  fact,  "Blessed  are  ye  that  sow  beside  all 
waters." 

Her  conversation  with  the  servants,  and  her  affec- 
tionate kindness  for  their  immortal  interests,  so  won 
them,  that  they  solicited  the  privilege  of  attending 
the  family  service.  "  I  have  at  last  found  courage 
to  allow  the  household  to  be  present  at  family  wor- 
ship, when  I  am  alone  :  they  always  unite  with  us 
when  Mr.  Sherman  or  papa  are  here,  but  till  lately, 
I  only  allowed  nurse  to  come  in.  We  now  assem- 
ble eight,  including  the  waiter.  I  never,  pre- 
viously, prayed  before  a  man,  except  in  the 
cottages  of  the  poor,  and  I  feel  it  to  be  a  great 
effort ;  but  the  desire  on  their  part  to  be  pre- 
sent, convinced  me  that  I  should  think  of  no  im- 
pediment." 

As  soon  as  Mrs.  Sherman  was  informed  that  a 
small  debt  encumbered  the  Chapel  at  Ventnor,  with 
a  countenance  beaming  with  benevolence  and  deci- 
sion, she  said  to  her  husband,  "  I  will  try  and  com- 
fort the  dear  man's  heart,  by  attempting  its  remo- 
val." Weak  as  she  was,  she  wrote  a  note  every 
day  to  some  liberal  Christian,  and  pleaded  with 
others,  from  whom  she  never  had  a  denial,  and  in 
less  than  a  month  the  whole  amount  required  was 
paid.  Never  can  her  husband  forget  the  moment 
when  he  accidentally  disturbed  her  in  her  room, 
kneeling  before  a  chair  on  which  she  had  placed  the 
money  thus  collected,  begging  God  to  accept  the 
offerings  of  his  servants,  and  thanking  Him  for  em- 
ploying her  in  its  collection.  O !  it  was  a  lovely  sight, 
to  behold  both  the  contributions  and  the  efforts, 
which  were  great  in  her  state  of  weakness,  alike 
consecrated  to  God.  Let  the  contributors  to 
that  fund  be  assured  that,  ere  this,  good  inter- 


286 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


est  has  come  to  them  from  heaven,  through  her 
prayers. 

She  thus  describes  the  state  of  her  health: — 
"  Well,  I  suppose  I  must  say  something  about  my- 
self:  I  am  decidedly  stronger;  I  keep  out,  walk- 
ing, standing,  leaning  against  posts,  sitting,  saun- 
tering, or  riding  every  bright  day,  and  we  have  had 
two  days  only  that  were  not  so.  My  cough  is  ge- 
nerally much  as  it  was ;  two  days  this  week  my 
old  symptoms  of  exhaustion  and  sickness  have 
thrown  me  back,  but  I  hope  soon  to  regain  lost 
ground.  My  heart  yearns  to  speak  to  the  poor  in- 
valids I  see  here ;  I  long  to  know  where  is  their 
hope,  and  whether  I  could  help  to  point  them 
to  Jesus.  My  respirator  is  a  great  impedi- 
ment, because  it  is  as  difficult  to  be  heard  as  to 
speak." 

To  a  young  friend  in  the  North,  in  whose  honor- 
ed family  she  had  occasionally  taken  up  her  abode, 
she  addressed  the  following  letter,  as  an  answer  to 
objections  and  difficulties  arising  from  a  want  of 
assurance : 

"  January,  1846. 
"  You  have  been  very  much  in  my  heart  since  J 
received  your  letter  two  months  since;  but  my 
abiHty  to 'write  where  any  effort  is  requisite,  has 
been  so  feeble  that  I  have  deferred,  hoping  for  bet- 
ter days ;  but  my  Aveakness  and  cough  remain,  and 
therefore,  in  spite  of  an  empty  mind,  I  am  going  to 
try  to  answer  you.  A  conversation  only  coulil  pro- 
perly respond  to  your  note,  because,  like  all  in 
your  state,  there  is  a  mixture  of  complete  contra- 
dictions— not  loving  Jesus,  yet  longing  to  be  like 
Him — loving  sin,  yet  aiming  at  perfection,  &c. 
Now,  my  sweet  child,  one  thing  is  certain — that  no 


MKMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


287 


conflict  begins  in  the  soul  till  the  spirit  of  God  be- 
gins to  work,  therefore  set  this  down  at  once,  that 
these  desires  after  God  are  not  produced  by  your 
own  sinful  nature.  To  discourage  you  in  your 
path  to  the  kingdom,  the  enemy  of  souls  is  per- 
petually throw^ing  temptations  in  your  way,  to  make 
you  stumble,  and  if  he  can  succeed,  to  induce  you 
to  give  up  entirely  so  difficult  an  effort.  Remem- 
ber, the  Christian  life  is  one  of  conflict  and  of  faith. 
Joyful,  indeed,  would  any  Christian  be  without  the 
trial  of  faith  ;  but  would  this  glorify  God  ?  No  ! 
Christian  assurance  is  the  result  of  close  walking 
with  God,  by  simple,  unshaken  faith  in  His  word. 
You  are  to  commit  that  naked,  guilty  soul  to  Him, 
to  be  saved  in  His  own  way ;  you  are  to  expect, 
nay,  to  receive  salvation,  because  the  offer  of  it  is 
made  to  you.  God  has  proved  his  entire  satisfiic- 
tion  in  the  work  of  His  beloved  Son,  by  raising 
Him  from  the  dead,  and  seating  Him  at  His  own 
right  hand  in  glory,  as  the  Intercessor.  The  work 
of  redemption,  therefore,  is  complete,  and  now  the 
gospel  is  sent  into  the  world,  inviting  every  crea- 
ture to  receive  it,  because  God  is  '  just,  and  the 
justifier  of  him  that  believeth.'  Take  God  at  His 
word,  and  accept  salvation,  and  the  fruits  of  faith 
must  follow.  You  must  not  be  discouraged  be- 
cause of  your  many  falls  and  broken  resolutions ; 
look  up  cheerfully  to  Him  who  promises  strength 
to  the  faint  and  '  help  to  the  weak.'  Keep  a  steady 
purpose,  in  most  entire  reliance  on  Divine  strength, 
and  '  the  supply  of  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  Christ,'  and 
do  not  stop  to  look  how  many  times  you  have  fallen, 
but  pursue  your  way,  see  the  exercise  of  constant 
repentance — of  simple  trust  in  a  faithful  friend,  for- 
get '  the  things  which  are  behind,  and  press  for- 
ward to  those  which  are  before ;'  tarry  not  in  all 


288 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


the  plain,  but  press  onward,  onward,  onward ! 
Thank  Him  for  every  thing  you  discover  of  a 
hopeful  character ;  give  Him  the  glory,  and  this 
will  greatly  encourage  you.  Do  not  be  idle  ;  you 
will  never  get  on  if  you  are.  Your  time  belongs 
to  God,  your  talents  are  His,  and  for  Him  they 
must  be  employed.  Ask,  '  Lord,  what  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do,  and  show  me  how  to  do  it ;  open  a 
way  for  me,  that  to  Thee  I  may  render  of  thine 
own.'  Be  much  in  prayer,  and  in  prayerful  study 
of  the  word  of  God.  Use  God  as  a  friend,  and  you 
will  soon  write  cheerily.  If  my  poor  mind  can  at 
any  time  help  you,  or  if  I  have  not  caught  what 
you  meant,  do  use  me,  and  let  me  know  ;  I  may 
not  be  able  to  write  immediately,  but  I  will  when 
I  can.  I  fear  I  must  at  least  wait  till  the  spring 
for  brighter  days,  but  I  am  most  happy ;  I  love 
the  hand  that  smites,  and  I  cannot  shrink  at 
His  gentle  touch  !  With  much  love  to  your  dear 
circle,  I  am, 

"  Your  truly  attached  friend, 

"M.  Sherman.'' 

As  the  summer  advanced,  more  strength  was 
gained,  the  cough  seemed  greatly  subdued,  and 
hope  was  entertained  that  even  now  her  life  might 
be  given  to  her  family  and  the  service  of  her  Lord. 
"  Prayer  was  made  without  ceasing  by  the  church" 
for  her,  and  all  her  friends  were  strengthened  to 
continue  in  supplication  by  the  pleasing  indications 
of  recovery.  The  Countess  Von  Reden,  of  Buch- 
wald,  in  Silesia,  Prussia,  was  exceedingly  anxious 
that  a  change  of  scene  and  air  should  be  tried,  and 
sent  her  a  most  affectionate  invitation  to  visit  her 
hospitable  mansion,  and  try  her  maternal  superin- 
tendence.   Her  physicians  thought  the  plan  desir- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


289 


able,  now  her  powers  were  recruited,  and  advised 
an  immediate  departure,  while  the  brightness  of  the 
summer  lasted.  As  she  has  preserved  a  lengthen- 
ed detail  of  the  incidents  of  the  journey  in  her 
journal  and  letters,  it  will  be  given  in  the  next 
chapter. 


25 


290 


THK  PASTOR  S   WH-R  ;  OR 


CHAPTER  XL 

JOURNEY  TO  SILESIA  AND  RETURN  TO  ENGLAND. 

Those  who  have  been  associated  with  consump- 
tive patients,  well  know  with  what  hope  any 
change  of  residence  is  hailed  as  a  means  of  recovery. 
When  Mrs.  Sherman  was  informed,  that  every 
thing  was  arranged  for  the  proposed  journey,  and 
that  she  and  her  husband  were  to  start  on  July 
21st ;  she  expressed  the  utmost  confidence  that  the 
visit  to  Silesia,  would  completely  restore  her,  and 
that  she  Avould  return  to  resume  her  duties  at  Sur- 
rey, in  her  former  vigor.  Indeed,  this  was  the  im- 
pression of  most  of  her  friends ;  for  as  she  had  so 
much  more  strength  than  she  possessed  eighteen 
months  before,  it  was  presumed  to  be  a  satisfactory 
evidence  that  the  disease  was  at  least  not  progress- 
ing, and  excited  the  hope  that  the  entire  change  of 
scene  which  a  continental  tour  would  present  might 
finally  arrest  it.  Slie  bore  the  journey  with  re- 
markable ease  and  apparent  comfort — and  seemed 
frequently  less  fatigued  than  her  companion.  When 
she  arrived  at  Buchwald,  her  friends  were  aston- 
ished to  see  her  look  so  well  and  appear  so  strong, 
and  felt  assured,  that  the  disease  was  not  of  so  seri- 
ous a  nature,  as  had  been  apprehended — a  confi- 
dence which  was  strengthened  by  the  opinion  of 
their  physician.  Her  husband  shared  at  times  in 
the  expectations  of  others,  that  he  should  again  be- 
hold her  engaged  in  the  activities  of  domestic  life. 
She  had  once  accompanied  him  as  an  invalid  to 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


291 


Silesia,  and  had  witnessed  with  joy  and  gratitude, 
the  beneficial  effects  of  the  bracing  mountain  air  in 
the  recovery  of  his  fading  health — he  now  travelled 
with  her  in  similar  circumstances  to  the  same  coun- 
try, cheered  with  the  probability  of  similar  results. 
The  interesting  incidents  of  the  journey  which  she 
narrates  in  the  following  pages,  so  entirely  diverted 
her  mind  from  thoughts  of  her  complaint,  that  in 
addition  to  the  natural  buoyancy  of  her  spirits, 
they  were  calculated  to  increase  her  cheerfulness 
and  hope. 

July  21st,  1846. — "  We  left  Surrey  Parsonage 
at  noon  for  Ramsgate,  where  we  slept,  and  at  five 
o'clock  the  next  morning,  sailed  for  Ostend :  we 
remained  there  till  the  afternoon,  and  then  went  on 
by  railway  for  Ghent.  An  English  party  accom- 
panied us  to  the  Convent  of  St.  Elizabeth,  to  hear 
evening  vespers,  where  we  met  dear  Dr.  Hender- 
son :  the  church  was  filled  with  kneeling  nuns,  the 
music  poor,  and  the  singing  confined  to  the  gallery  : 
one  old  nun  came  round  for  our  offerings ;  I  had 
none  to  present,  but  prayer,  that  light  might  break 
through  the  intense  cloud  of  ignorance  and  super- 
stition. 

"  Next  morning,  23rd,  went  by  tram  to  Liege, 
and  slept  in  a  splendid  hotel,  the  Pavilion  Anglais. 
Arrived  at  Cologne,  a  little  too  late  for  the  five 
o'clock  train  to  Bonn  ;  we  had  to  spend  three  hours 
in  the  waiting-room,  were  dreadfully  dirty,  and 
wishing  to  procure  the  luxury  of  a  wash,  I  set  out 
on  an  exploring  expedition,  and  asked  a  woman, 
whether  I  could  be  allowed  the  use  of  a  room ;  a 
look  of  enquiry  was  given  by  her  to  a  man,  who 
quickly  disappeared,  to  make  the  important  ar- 
rangements requisite  for  such  an  undertaking.  In 
a  few  moments  he  appeared,  and  requesting  me  to 


292  THE  pastor's  wife  ;  or 

follow  him,  I  was  introduced  to  a  passage,  on  the 
floor  of  which  was  a  pail  of  water,  which  with  a 
polite  bow,  he  commended  to  my  patronage. 
Thinking  this  blissful  arrangement  might  yet  be  im- 
proved upon,  he  removed  the  redoubtable  pail  to 
one  of  the  stairs,  thus  forming  a  choice  washing- 
stand,  on  which  I  arranged  my  soap  and  brush ; 
and  then  in  the  presence  of  some  who  seemed  un- 
willing to  be  ejected,  I  commenced  the  delicious 
operation.  Grateful  for  such  a  refreshment  myself, 
I  asked  them  to  allow  my  husband  the  same  privi- 
lege, but  this  was  at  once  refused,  and  I  returned, 
thankful  only  that  I  had  not  before  my  luxury  was 
presented  to  me,  known  that  I  only  was  to  possess 
it.  How  every  enjoyment  diminishes  when  shared 
alone  !  If  it  be  thus  felt  in  the  perishing  things  of 
time,  why  not  more  so  in  the  substantial  blessings 
of  eternity  !  At  eight,  the  long  wished  for  train 
started  from  Cologne  to  Bonn,  and  we  soon  dis- 
cerned the  beautiful  and  far-famed  Drachenfels.  In 
an  hour  we  were  in  Bonn,  at  our  old  quarters  Der 
Stern,  now  much  enlarged  and  improved,  and  slept 
in  the  room  opposite  to  that  which  dear  Selina  and 
I  four  years  before  had  occupied.  'We  intended  to 
take  the  steamer  at  eight  in  the  morning,  but  fear- 
ing the  effects  of  the  storm  on  my  cough,  we 
waited  till  the  boat  from  Cologne  arrived  at  half- 
past  twelve.  The  thunder  had  ceased,  but  the  fre- 
quent showers  of  rain  compelled  me  to  seek  shelter 
below.  The  boat  was  beautifully  fitted  up,  and 
our  situation  was  far  from  annoying;  still,  the 
beauties  of  the  Rhine  were  scarcely  discernible 
from  the  windows.  A  slight  intimation  given  by 
one  of  the  waiters  that  dinner  would  shortly  be  forth- 
coming, sent  the  people  down  stairs  by  shoals. 
Every  fresh  stoppage  seemed  to  bring  new  acquaint- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


293 


ances,  and  greatly  enhanced  the  cheerfulness  of 
our  journey.  A  group  of  Germans  are  on  one  side 
of  me,  eating,  drinking,  and  conversing  incessantly, 
and  a  voluble  English  lady  opposite,  talking  to  a 
bachelor-looking  gentleman  on  the  ugliness  of  new- 
born babes !  A  gentleman  lies  asleep  near  her, 
lulled,  no  doubt,  by  the  soft  monotony  of  her  in- 
cessant tongue.  More  interesting  to  me  is  my  own 
dear  husband,  who  is  fast  asleep  by  my  side,  un- 
conscious that  my  pencil  is  employed  about  him. 
We  reached  Coblentz  at  six  this  evening,  and  took 
apartments  at  the  Giant  Hotel,  rather  fearing  that 
no  public  Sabbath  privileges  will  be  ours  to-mor- 
row. While  I  rested,  dear  husband  went  out  to 
explore  a  little,  and  had  nearly  paid  dearly  for  it: 
he  went  much  further  than  he  intended  beyond  the 
town,  and  while  in  the  field,  a  dreadful  storm  came 
on ;  it  became  perfectly  dark,  and  poured  torrents 
of  rain.  He  had  no  umbrella,  nor  did  he  meet  any 
one  of  whom  he  could  enquire  his  way ;  at  last  a 
German  passed  him,  who,  through  the  kind  Provi- 
dence of  our  watchful  Friend  in  heaven,  accom- 
panied and  sheltered  him  with  his  umbrella  nearly 
all  the  way  home.  I,  through  fatigue,  was  asleep, 
and  mercifully  unconscious  of  the  lateness  of  the 
hour,  still  less  of  the  perilous  situation  of  my  most 
beloved  one.  Oh !  for  a  heart  to  feel  my  debt  of 
gratitude  for  this,  as  well  as  all  my  mercies. 

2%th. — "We  were  much  pleased  to  find  there 
was  English  service  twice  on  the  Sabbath,  but 
were  so  wearied  at  night,  and  so  disturbed  from 
half-past  four,  by  the  constant  chiming  for  service 
in  the  Catholic  churches,  that  we  were  obliged  to 
rest  as  long  as  possible  in  the  morning,  and  came 
down  to  breakfast  a  little  after  nine.  A  worthy 
looking  German  soon  arrived,  and  addressing  my 


294 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


husband  as  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  Enghmd, 
requested  him  to  assist  in  the  anticipated  absence 
of  the  officiating  clergyman,  Mr.  M. ;  but  finding 
he  was  not  orthodox,  he  turned  to  a  genuine  son  of 
the  church  breakfasting  with  us,  who  promised  to 
assist,  if  necessary.  We  found  '  the  church  in  the 
house'  literally,  as  a  room  was  devoted  to  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  with  two  statues — one  of  the  Pope. 
An  invalid  clergyman  preached  from,  '  It  must 
needs  be  that  offences  come,  but  wo  to  that  man 
by  whom  the  offence  cometh,'  a  beautiful  sermon 
as  to  composition,  but  entirely  deficient  of  the  gos- 
pel, the  only  thing  adapted  to  the  necessities  of  his 
hearers.  We  returned  to  our  hotel,  with  a  son  of 
Dr.  Humphreys,  a  minister  in  Kentucky.  The 
music  at  dinner  was  excellent,  but  sadly  unsuitable 
for  the  sacred  Sabbath-day.  In  the  evening  we 
heard  Mr.  M.,  a  good  serznon  from,  '  Whosoever 
shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven, 
the  same  is  my  brother,  and  sister,  and  mother  ;' 
but  the  precious  truths  wanted  a  warmer  utterance. 
A  well-played  piano  was  substituted  for  the  organ. 

21th. — "  Monday  morning  took  steamer  up  the 
Rhine  to  Biberich,  and  breakfasted  on  board.  The 
little  damp  encountered  on  entering  the  boat  occa- 
sioned a  fit  of  coughing,  which  spoilt  my  day,  pro- 
duced a  distressing  sense  of  exhaustion,  and  inca- 
pacitated me  for  enjoying  any  thing ;  no  nice  peo- 
ple on  board,  and  happily  no  temptation  to  talk. 
We  arrived  at  Biberich,  the  seat  of  the  Prince  of 
Nassau,  about  six,  and  rode  to  Wiesbaden,  '  the 
city  of  lodging-houses.'  Most  quiet  apartments 
wei'e  given  us  in  the  garden  of  the  Hotel  de  Poste, 
where  a  delicious  meal,  to  our  hunger  stricken 
stomachs,  of  tea,  fish,  cutlets,  &c.,  was  served  up 
with  great  rapidity  and  laste.    This  may  be  taken 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


295 


as  a  specimen  of  a  German  watering-place,  where 
every  temptation  abounds  to  young  and  old,  and 
gambling  is  carried  on  openly,  with  royal  sanction. 
I  slept  most  sweetly  in  our  quiet  chamber,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  28th  we  drove  round  to  the 
various  sights.  The  Kur  Saal  is  a  splendid  saloon 
of  large  dimensions,  surrounded  by  pillars  of  Lim- 
burg  marble;  it  serves  the  purpose  of  banquet, 
ball,  assembly,  and  gaming-room,  and  forms  the 
centre  of  attraction  and  gaiety.  It  is  gorgeously 
furnished  with  splendid  curtains  of  rich  brocaded 
satin,  lined  with  white  silk.  We  tasted  the  water 
of  the  Kochbrunnen ;  it  is  very  hot,  and  has  the 
taste  of  chicken  broth.  The  water-drinkers  receive 
their  portion  scalding  hot,  and  walk  about,  glass  in 
hand,  till  it  is  cool  enough  to  be  drank.  We  were 
astonished,  as  we  walked  along  the  streets,  to  see 
the  vapor  occasionally  rising  on  all  sides,  which 
must  make  the  place  very  hot  in  summer.  A  long 
avenue  of  acacias  leads  up  to  this  spring,  and  is  a 
delightful  promenade.  The  bazaar  furnished  me 
with  a  most  convenient  travelling  basket,  for  three 
and  a  half  guilders. 

"  After  a  very  pleasant  survey  of  this  enchant- 
ing place,  we  proceeded  by  railway  to  Frankfort, 
through  a  most  richly  cultivated  country.  This 
evening  at  eight  we  proceeded  to  Weimar,  to  break 
the  journey  to  Leipsic,  where  we  expect  to  arrive 
at  eight  to-morrow  evening.  We  took  our  places 
i  1  the  eilwagen,  with  an  English  gentleman,  whom 
we  afterwards  discovered  to  be  a  tutor  at  C.  C, 
Oxford,  two  German  gentlemen,  one  of  whom  soon 
left  us,  that  he  might  sit  where  smoking  was  allow- 
ed. All  spoke  English.  We  had  dined  at  five,  and 
knowing  the  Germans'  eating  propensities,  we  had 
no  doubt  of  plenty  of  refreshment ;  but,  to  our 


296 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE )  OR 


dismay,  we  were  told  that  we  should  not  stop 
till  five  in  the  morning.  I  slept,  but  was  not  re- 
freshed. 

"  At  five  the  29th,  the  pleasant  sound  of  rest  for 
breakfast  was  responded  to  readily,  and  after  sun- 
dry adventures,  which  are  the  sad,  inseparable  ac- 
companiments of  German  travelling,  I  came  to  the 
tempting  meal,  but  found  little  that  I  could  eat. 
Coffee  I  relished  most,  still  it  yielded  me  but  little 
support ;  on  this,  however,  we  were  to  subsist  till 
dinner,  at  half  past  three  o'clock.  While  changing 
horses  my  good  husband  ran  to  some  shop  and  ob- 
tained a  very  excellent  German  vorst,  which  I  en- 
joyed exceedingly,  and  a  new  loaf:  on  this  we 
stayed  our  hunger,  and  fared  tolerably  well.  It  is 
one  of  the  best  things  to  take  on  the  road,  where 
you  cannot  command  a  good  hotel  or  a  rest  at  a 
convenient  house.  I  persuaded  him  not  to  stop  ai 
Weimar,  but  continue  the  whole  journey,  as  wt 
should  save  but  ten  hours,  and  meet  many  mort 
difficulties  in  proceeding  to  Leipsic.  Though  weary, 
yet  having  committed  every  step  of  the  way  to  the 
guidance  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  I  believed  this 
arrangement  was  best. 

"  At  half-past  six,  on  the  30th,  we  were  rattling 
over  the  stones  of  Leipsic,  and  soon  found  our- 
selves sitting  clown  to  an  excellent  breakfast,  in  a 
small  room  at  an  hotel,  near  the  railway.  The 
meal  refreshed  and  invigorated  me  ;  and  after  a 
good  bathe,  I  found  myself  quite  equal  to  a  hasty 
view  of  the  lions  of  Leipsic.  We  hired  an  excel- 
lent carriage,  and  drove  to  the  rather  fine  Church 
of  St.  Nicholas.  It  is  too  overloaded  with  orna- 
ment to  be  beautiful.  In  a  closet  near  the  door, 
we  saw  the  pulpit  in  which  Luther  first  preached. 
A  stupid  woman  showed  us  the  church,  who  could 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


297 


give  us  but  little  information.  The  tower  of  the 
castle  of  Pleissenburg  is  now  converted  into  an  ob- 
servatory, from  the  summit  of  which  we  were 
shown  the  field  of  the  battle  of  Leipsic.  A  German 
took  great  pains  to  explain  to  us  the  plan  of  the 
battle.  It  was  the  most  awful  account  I  ever  re- 
member to  have  heard.  Napoleon  brought  136,000 
troops  on  the  ground,  and  the  Allies  230,000.  The 
battle-field  extended  over  many  miles,  and  the 
battle  itself  lasted  for  three  days.  The  carnage 
was  indescribably  dreadful.  How  great  the  mercy 
that  our  beloved  country,  from  its  isolated  position, 
and  the  care  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  has  escaped 
being  made  the  seat  of  war !  The  Rathhaus,  or 
Town-Hall,  is  a  fine  and  very  ancient  building. 
In  the  square  in  which  it  is  situated,  the  allied 
sovereigns  met  after  the  battle.  We  then  saw  the 
monument  erected  in  M.  Gerhard's  garden  to  the 
brave  Poniatowski,  who  fell  in  covering  Napoleon's 
retreat — and  returned  through  the  public  walks, 
which  are  peculiarly  agreeable  and  beautiful,  to 
the  table  d'hote,  at  one  ;  and  at  four  proceeded  by 
railroad  to  Dresden,  to  the  Hotel  de  Saxe,  and  soon 
recognized  the  sublime  tones  of  the  clock  of  the 
Frauenkirche,  in  the  opposite  corner  of  the  same 
square.    We  are  still  with  our  amiable  friend 

M  ,  who  has  joined  some  college  men  whom 

he  expected,  and  we  shall  probably  meet  no  more 
on  earth.  I  expect  that  this  superior  young  man 
will  some  day  prove  a  second  Arnold.  At  the 
table  d'hote,  the  music  was  softer  and  sweeter  than 
at  Coblentz,  but  not  equal  in  execution. 

"  As  we  found  no  letters,  and  were  unwilling  to 
leave  without  them,  we  resolved  to  wait  till  Mon- 
day, and  instead  of  going  through  the  Saxon  Swit- 
zerland in  our  journey,  we  took  a  carriage  at  seven 


298 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


in  the  morning,  and  spent  a  long  clay  among  some 
of  its  choicest  beauties.  We  crossed  the  Elbe  in  a 
large  ferry-boat,  for  which  nothing  was  demanded, 
although  a  trinkgeld  was  expected,  to  see  Pillnitz, 
the  palace  of  the  King  of  Saxony.  Though  we 
left  the  carriage  to  walk  through  the  grounds,  and 
met  it  at  the  other  end,  we  thought  it  would  be 
wiser  to  relinquish  this  inferior  sight,  and  reserve 
all  our  time  and  strength  for  the  finer  scenes  before 
us,  especially  as  no  horse  or  carriage  could  assist 
us  there,  and  we  anticipated  a  tolerably  fatiguing 
expedition.  A  luncheon  was  supplied  at  the  little 
village  of  Lohmen,  when,  to  my  great  gratification, 
the  question  was  asked  whether  the  lady  would 
have  a  chair  and  bearers.  Dear  husband,  ever 
alive  to  that  which  would  please  or  relieve  his  wife, 
engaged  it  for  five  francs,  which,  by  deceiving  him 
with  the  distance,  they  managed  to  increase  to  six- 
teen. The  guide  went  before  to  arrange  for  my 
chair,  and  after  a  short  ride  in  the  carriage  we 
alighted,  and  sent  it  by  the  road  to  Konigstein, 
there  to  await  our  return.  Seated  in  a  most  com- 
fortably-cushioned chair,  a  stirrup  for  my  feet,  and 
borne  on  poles  by  two  strong  men,  with  my  shawl 
and  umbrella  strapped  behind  it,  we  started  for 
Ottowalder  Grund,  husband  walking.  Before  I 
was  quite  surf  that  I  was  actually  seated,  I  found 
myself  descending  some  hundred  steps  cut  out  of 
the  rock,  winding  down  a  frightful  depth  between 
two  immense  rocks,  which  were  covered  with  trees, 
and  almost  closed  at  the  top,  in  one  place  only  four 
feet  asunder.  Some  huge  blocks  of  stone  in  one 
I)lace  have  Allien  from  the  summit,  and  form  a 
natural  roof,  beneath  which  you  must  creep  along 
above  the  brook  on  planks.  This  narrow  passage 
has  the  awful  name  of  'Hell,'  and  a  particular 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


299 


opening  in  the  roof,  from  its  resemblance  to  a  chim- 
ney, is  called  the  Devil's  Kitchen.  Among  these 
remarkable  rocks  we  wound  our  way  for  some  few 
miles,  stopping  only  to  look  at  certain  curious 
forms  which  they  assumed .  At  length,  after  passing 
through  a  forest  of  firs,  we  came  upon  the  Bastei, 
a  name  given  to  a  most  wonderful  mass  of  rock. 
It  consists  of  one  narrow  block,  eight  hundred  feet 
above  the  Elbe,  which  flows  at  its  base.  Beyond 
the  brink  of  the  precipice,  you  stand  and  com- 
mand a  prospect  of  unexampled  beauty — altogether 
unique.  Similar  precipitous  blocks  rise  behind  you ; 
and  all  along  the  same  bank  of  the  river,  little 
bridges  are  thrown  across,  to  enable  travellers  to 
pass  from  one  to  the  other,  many  of  them  so  frail 
and  narrow,  that  it  seemed  as  if  one  shaking  thun- 
der-storm would  throw  them  all  down;  I  quaked  as 
I  crossed  them,  and  hovered  on  pinnacles  upwards 
of  eight  hundred  feet  high.  Trees  grow  more  or  less 
on  the  summits,  and  in  the  interstices  of  most,  and 
give  a  most  delicious,  luxurious  appearance  to  the 
whole  scene.  After  exploring  as  much  as  time 
would  allow  these  lovely  scenes,  we  set  out  in  the 
same  style  for  Kiinigstein,  (the  only  fortress  in 
Europe  which  has  never  been  taken,)  built  on 
one  of  the  singular  masses  of  rock  which  rise 
suddenly  from  the  plain.  We  had  to  re-cross  the 
Elbe,  and  for  want  of  a  seat  I  placed  myself  in 
my  chair,  which  was  conveyed  with  us ;  at  the 
other  side,  the  men  took  me  up  as  I  was,  to  lift 
me  out  of  the  boat,  but  one  of  them  slipped  his 
foot,  and  nearly  let  me  fall  into  the  Elbe ;  a  wet 
foot  and  leg  were  all  he  encountered.  For  three 
hours  more  we  pursued  our  way  to  Konigstein. 
poor  husband  wonderfully  strong  and  fresh,  not- 
withstanding his  long  walk.    Before  we  entered 


300 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


the  fortress,  we  sent  our  passports,  and  in  the 
mean  while  took  dinner  at  the  little  hotel  at  its 
base.  I  playfully  said  to  the  maid  in  attendance, 
referring  to  my  chair,  I  am  like  England's  Queen 
on  her  throne ;  she  seemed  astonished,  and  began 
examining  my  shawl  and  dress,  concluding  that 
I  was  at  least  some  extraordinary  person.  We 
told  her  to  get  us  what  she  pleased  for  dinner,  and 
in  a  very  short  time  she  produced  some  '  Bier  kalt 
chaale,'  which  we  had  never  before  tasted,  and  as 
it  was  served  up  in  a  soup-plate,  took  it  to  be  a 
German  soup,  till  we  found  our  mistake.  Some 
fresh  trout  and  cutlet  helped  us  to  make  an  excel- 
lent meal,  and  we  set  off  again  for  the  fortress. 
The  circuit  is  a  mile  and  a  half,  the  scenery  exqui- 
site. The  well  is  upwards  of  800  feet  deep,  a  lamp 
and  a  small  bucket  were  let  down,  and  by  catching 
the  rays  of  the  sun  on  a  glass  we  saw  the  water 
rippling  below.  I  helped  to  draw  up  the  bucket ; 
the  water  was  delicious.  We  took  coffee  at  the 
little  inn,  and  entered  the  carriage  to  return  to 
Dresden  by  Pirna.  The  sunset  was  most  exquisite, 
making  the  Konigstein,  and  the  masses  of  rock 
around,  Hockstein,  Lilienstein,  and  Holmstein,  ap- 
pear to  be  brilliantly  illuminated.  From  the  latter 
Napoleon  attempted  to  reach  Konigstein  with  the 
cannon,  which  with  great  difficulty  he  had  raised 
up  its  precipitous  sides,  but  finding  every  shot  fall 
short  of  the  fortress,  and  that  it  was  naturally  im- 
pregnable, he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  the  effort. 
Each  of  these  singular  mounds  of  rock  has  its  own 
romantic  legend,  for  the  mountains  of  Saxony  and 
Bohemia,  are  the  cradles  of  Gnomes  and  Kobolds, 
the  native  country  of  tale-telling  tradition.  Russel 
says,  '  when  from  some  elevated  crag  you  overlook 
the  whole  mass,  and  see  these  stiff  bare  rocks  rising 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  301 


from  the  earth,  manifesting,  though  now  disjoined, 
that  they  once  formed  one  body,  you  might  think 
yourself  gazing  on  the  skeleton  of  a  perishing  world, 
all  the  softer  parts  of  which  have  mouldered  away, 
and  left  only  the  naked,  indestructible  frame-work.' 
The  Elbe  wound  its  way  at  the  feet  of  these  rocks, 
through  the  whole  lovely,  rich  valley ;  and  the 
golden  sunset  produced  the  most  striking  effect  on 
the  whole  scene.  Then  appeared  the  moon,  which 
brilliantly  lighted  us  home,  where  we  arrived  about 
ten.  The  whole  day  was  one  of  singular  enjoy- 
ment ;  my  dear  husband,  though  fatigued  by  the 
unexpected  walk  of  probably  fifteen  miles,  and 
much  of  it  up  hill  and  very  rough,  was  really  better 
for  it,  and  my  quiet  way  of  travelling  immensely 
refreshed  me,  as  I  had  no  exertion  whatever,  ex- 
cept in  walking  over  the  Konigstein  ;  the  mountain 
air,  scenery,  and  entire  quiet,  did  me  more  good 
than  any  thing  since  I  left  home. 

"  Next  morning,  the  Sabbath,  August  2nd,  went 
to  the  English  church,  and  heard  a  good  sermon, 
on  '  If  peradventure  he  will  give  them  repentance,' 
but  so  abominably  read  that  it  took  away  all  in- 
terest from  the  congregation.  The  building  had 
been  an  old  Lutheran  church,  portraits  of  Luther 
and  Huss  hung  on  each  side  of  the  altar.  We  re- 
mained to  partake  of  the  communion,  which  I  much 
enjoyed  as  quite  unexpected,  and  for  the  first  time 
knelt  by  my  husband's  side  on  such  an  occasion. 
Here  we  mingled  prayers,  and  faith,  and  hallowed 
feasting,  with  numbers  of  the  same  family  in  this 
far  distant  land.  We  returned  to  our  hotel  just  in 
time  for  dinner,  and  found  the  band  of  music  very 
uncongenial  after  the  privileges  of  the  morning. 
No  letters  arrived,  which  made  me  very  anxious 
about  dear  papa.    Our  apartments  looked  out  into 


302 


THE  PASTORS  WIFE;  OR 


the  great  square  through  which  most  of  the  car- 
riages passed  ;  the  noise  quite  bewihleied  me,  and 
we  were  thankful  to  take  tea  in  the  Salle  for  quiet. 
It  was  the  first  day  of  some  feast  connected  with 
target  shooting,  at  which  all  the  royal  family  are 
present ;  it  lasts  eight  days,  thus  securing  two  Sun- 
days for  these  worldly  amusements.  How  can  we 
sufficiently  value  our  own  beloved  country,  and  the 
privileges  of  Protestantism,  which  discountenances 
what  Popery  encourages. 

August  'Srd. — "  We  left  Dresden  at  half-past 
five,  to  take  the  train  for  Bautzen.  The  morning 
was  lovely,  and  early  as  it  was  all  seemed  busy, 
even  ladies  were  availing  themselves  of  the  cool  air 
for  walking  exercise.  It  is  a  beautiful  line  of  rail- 
way, both  as  to  scenery  and  conveyances.  The 
banks  of  the  cuttings  are  turfed  in  ornamental 
squares,  and  looked  very  refreshing.  In  our  car- 
riage, a  very  polite  German  with  an  insignia  ribbon 
in  his  button-hole,  paid  us  great  attention.  At 
Bautzen,  I  went  for  shade  under  a  sort  of  shed, 
where  many  tables  were  spread  for  refreshment,  as 
the  train  arrived  at  half-past  seven,  a  hungry  time 
— the  place  was  speedily  filled  with  men  and  wo- 
men, whose  appetites  were  sharpened  by  the  air  of 
the  morning.  We  engaged  a  Lohnkutscher,  to 
convey  us  to  Giirlitz,  and  notwithstanding  the  heat, 
enjoyed  the  ride.  We  lunched  a  little  after  eleven 
at  Liibau,  where  gathering  clouds  threatened  thun- 
der— we  hoped  to  outride  it,  but  it  became  thicker 
and  darker,  and  when  the  horses  had  reached  the 
larger  half  of  their  way  to  Gorlitz,  we  put  the  car- 
riage under  cover,  and  anticipated  the  storm's  ap- 
proach. But  He  whose  eye  never  ceased  to  watch 
over  us,  bid  it  spend  itself  on  Gorlitz,  while  we 
were  waiting  for  it  to  burst  over  our  now  sheltered 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


303 


heads.  A  billiard-room  was  all  the  accommoda- 
tion the  little  inn  afforded.  We  took  some  deli- 
cious coffee,  for  the  good  of  the  house,  and  I  gave 
the  coachman  some,  with  great  success,  to  sweeten 
his  rather  souring  temper.  The  railway  which 
was  in  the  course  of  formation  from  Bautzen  to 
Breslau,  was  an  interesting  object,  as  the  road  kept 
it  in  view  nearly  the  whole  way.  Some  parts  over 
which  it  passes  are  very  picturesque  and  its  via- 
ducts noble  works  of  art.  We  entered  Gorlitz 
about  four,  p.  m.,  and  drove  to  the  Hirsch  Hotel, 
where  they  gave  us  a  large  apartment,  but  the  two 
beds  were  placed  in  a  recess,  concealed  by  a  muslin 
curtain,  which  made  it  as  close  a  bed-room  as  any 
German  could  desire. 

August  Ath. — "  At  five  in  the  morning,  we  took 
the  coupe  in  the  Eilwagen,  with  the  guard  as  our 
only  companion.  The  journey  was  very  hot  and 
fatiguing,  but  much  relieved  by  our  favorable 
places.  At  last  we  reached  the  long  desired  Hirsch- 
berg,  where  we  obtained  a  delicious  dinner,  and 
took  extra  post  to  Buchwald.  Storms  were  all 
around  us,  and  we  seemed  to  be  going  into  the 
thickest  of  them,  but  they  broke  off  before  us,  and 
left  lovely  sunshine  which  made  the  mountains  and 
the  sweet  Tyrolese  houses  in  the  vale  of  Erdmanns- 
dorlf,  look  most  enchanting.  It  seemed  difficult  to 
realize  that  I  was  on  the  spot,  which  had  been  a 
subject  of  such  great  interest  to  me,  from  the  de- 
scriptions I  had  heard  of  these  good  people.  We 
crossed  a  wooden  bridge  in  the  vale  of  Erdmanns- 
dorff,  and  turned  to  the  left,  when  the  postillion's 
continuous  blast  told  us  we  were  in  Buchwald,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  more  we  saw  the  venerable  old 
mansion.  The  Countess  and  her  sister  not  only 
welcomed  us,  but  came  to  the  carriage  and  affec- 


304 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


tionately  embraced  me.  One  look  at  them,  told 
me  they  were  no  ordinary  persons.  The  loveliness 
and  dignity  of  their  countenances  and  manners,  with 
the  perfect  simpUcity  and  neatness  of  their  dress 
seemed  to  say,  their  worth  was  not  merely  exter- 
nal. Putting  my  arm  hi  hers,  the  dear  Countess 
conducted  me,  with  the  alacrity  of  youth,  to  two 
large  sitting-rooms  and  a  bed-room,  each  com- 
manding a  different  view,  which  she  had  appro- 
priated to  our  use.  The  first  person  that  appeared, 
to  uncover  my  boxes,  was  a  pretty  barefooted 
maid,  with  a  Silesian  cap.  She  speedily  left,  and 
I  w^as  glad  to  be  alone,  and  endeavored  to  realize 
the  dream  that  I  really  was  at  Buchw'ald.  I  had 
just  finished  my  toilette,  when  the  dear  Countess 
herself  tapped  at  the  door,  and  announced  that  tea 
was  ready.  We  entered  the  drawing-room,  when 
we  were  introduced  to  '  my  excellent  young  friend, 
Theophilus  Reichell,  a  minister  among  the  Brethren 
at  Gnadenfrey,'  who  speaks  English.  Then  we 
were  shown  the  picture  of  our  '  Surrey  Chapel,'  and 
a  portrait  of  its  pastor;  then  (he  splendid  view 
from  the  '  bow  window.'  We  were  soon  quite  at 
home,  and,  putting  together  all  the  French  I  could 
summon,  I  began  to  talk  to  the  dear  sister,  Caro- 
lina, whose  tenderness  to  ray  bad  speaking  encou- 
raged me  to  proceed,  and  by  the  aid  of  German 
and  English,  where  French  failed,  I  formed  a  triple 
cord  of  friendship,  I  trust  never  to  be  broken.  At 
nine  o'clock  we  were  summoned  to  the  prayer- 
room,  where  we  found  one  of  the  Countess's  school- 
masters seated  at  a  seraphine,  and  on  one  side 
men-servants,  on  the  other  women.  The  Countess 
took  her  seat  at  the  table,  and  commenced  with  a 
hymn,  many  verses  of  which  were  sung;  each 
hymn  has  its  melody,  and  it  is  jiresumed  that  both 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


305 


are  familiar  to  all  good  members  of  the  church ; 
then  a  chapter  was  read,  in  a  peculiarly  sweet 
voice,  by  the  Countess;  one  more  hymn  was  sung, 
and  when  we  were  singing  the  last  verse,  all  arose, 
the  singing  ceased,  and  we  remained  in  silence  for 
about  half  a  minute.  The  Countess  took  my  arm, 
and  led  me  back  to  the  drawing-room,  which  was 
a  signal  for  all  to  leave.  In  a  few  moments.  Coi- 
ner, the  butler,  gave  each  of  us  a  large  square 
table  mat,  with  a  small  salt-cellar,  a  knife,  fork, 
and  spoon,  showing  that  supper  was  coming.  Soup, 
chicken,  &c.,  were  handed.  We  all  took  what  we 
liked,  and  then,  being  much  fatigued,  I  retired  to 
bed.  The  Countess,  lighting  my  candle  and  taking 
my  arm,  led  me  into  my  room,  charging  me  not  to 
make  my  toilette  in  the  morning,  as  it  was  not  ne- 
cessary. We  assembled  in  the  Hall,  whence  we 
were  led  to  a  sweet  room  in  the  garden,  adjoining 
the  orangerie,  for  breakfast.  When  the  meal  was 
finished,  we  were  told  that  the  little  carriage, 
which  the  Count  had  made  for  riding  about  the 
grounds,  would  be  at  our  service  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. It  is  a  sort  of  Irish  car,  very  narrow  and 
light,  with  only  one  seat,  hung  very  low,  the  back 
of  which  turns,  so  that  we  could  sit  on  which  side 
we  pleased,  according  to  the  prospect,  and  visit 
places  where  an  ordinary  carriage  could  not  enter. 
We  were  soon  seated  with  the  dear  Countess,  and 
driving  through  winding  walks,  woody  hills,  and 
scrambling  rocks,  went  first  to  the  tower.  From 
the  spot  where  the  carriage  stopped,  to  the  summit, 
is  a  very  easy  walk,  and  the  view  greatly  pre- 
ferable to  that  of  the  Schneekoppe.  The  Tyrolese 
colony ;  the  Royal  Palace  at  Erdmannsdorff,  with 
its  delightful  lake  and  grounds ;  a  large  cotton 
factory  ;  several  churches,  with  lovely  villages  and 
26* 


306 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


small  towns ;  together  with  an  endless  variety  of 
most  fantastically  formed  and  richly-clothed  hills ; 
the  whole  range  of  mountains  which  separate  Silesia 
from  Bohemia,  called  the  Riesengebirge,  (Giant 
Mountains,)  of  which  the  Schneekoppe  is  the  chief, 
nearly  five  thousand  feet  high  ;  and  valleys  of  ex- 
quisite beauty,  well  cultivated,  and  clothed  with 
abundant  crops,  which  are  all  seen  from  this  ele- 
vated spot — form  one  of  the  most  pleasing  and 
splendid  prospects  I  have  seen  in  any  country. 
The  only  defect  in  the  panorama  is  the  absence  of 
any  great  river  or  large  sheet  of  water. 

"  We  returned  and  dressed  for  dinner  at  two. 
After  dinner  we  heard  that  a  party  was  waiting  to 
see  the  Countess,  consisting  of  the  aged  Count  C, 
the  Rev.  J.  Tippelskirche,  formerly  chaplain  to 
Chevalier  Bunsen,  and  his  wife  and  wife's  sister, 
the  Count's  daughters.  The  Countess  said  she 
could  receive  no  visitors  till  she  knew  if  her  '  dear 
Prince  William'  was  coming,  and  would  take  leave 
of  her  before  he  left  Fischbach  for  Mayence,  and, 
while  in  conversation,  a  little  note  came  from  him, 
saying  he  and  Prince  Waldemar  would  drink  tea 
with  her  about  seven.  Knowing  that  it  was  a 
friendly  visit,  and  that  he  had  within  a  few  months 
lost  his  pious  and  most  devoted  Princess,  the  bosom 
i'riend  of  the  Countess,  we  intended  to  keep  out  of 
the  way,  but  the  Countess  said,  '  by  no  means  ;  he 
is  happy  to  see  any  friends  who  are  visiting  me, 
though  he  would  not  like  any  invited  to  meet  him  ; 
all  that  is  necessary  is  a  black  dress,  on  account  of 
the  recent  death,  and  no  color.'  I  soon  settled  this 
matter,  most  fortunately  having  travelled  in  a  black 
satin,  and  was,  according  to  the  Countess's  opinion, 
'  as  nice  as  possible.'  We  determined,  with  her 
consent,  not  to  appear  until  called  for,  when  tea 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


307 


was  ready.  At  seven  a  carriage  and  four  ar- 
rived, with  Prince  William,  his  son.  Prince  Walde- 

mar,  and  Count  ,  his  aid-de-camp.    The  two 

sisters  greeted  them  at  the  carriage,  talked  for  some 
time  with  them,  and  then  adjourned  to  the  seat  by 
the  waterfall,  where  we  had  previously  taken  cof- 
fee with  the  party  above  named.  When  tea  was 
ready,  Theophilus  came  to  fetch  us ;  we  were  then 
introduced  to  the  party  in  the  garden,  and  went 
with  them  to  the  saloon,  where  we  sat  and  chatted 
and  drank  our  tea.  When  retiring  to  the  mansion 
the  Prince  William  expressed  his  hope  that  I  had 
another  shawl,  and  repeated  to  the  Countess  his 
fear  that  I  should  take  cold,  as  it  was  damp  by  the 
water.  I  felt  his  kindness,  and  only  regretted  that 
I  could  not  talk  to  him  much,  from  the  difficulty  of 
commanding  language.  Babel  has  done  much  to 
mar  our  happiness.  We  returned  to  the  house, 
where  we  sat  round  the  table  in  the  drawing-room, 
the  Countess  placing  me  next  to  the  Prince.  When 
the  late  fearful  battles  occurred  in  India,  Prince 
Waldemar  was  travelling  in  that  country,  on  a  tour 
of  pleasure ;  he  offered  his  services,  and  greatly 
distinguished  himself,  for  which  he  has  since  been 
created  General.  He  was  so  kind  as  to  bring  with 
him,  by  the  request  of  the  Countess,  numerous  beau- 
tiful sketches,  which  he  h^  made  of  Indian  scenery, 
&c.,  which  we  inspected,  and  he  in  the  most  affa- 
ble manner  explained.  He  speaks  English  toler- 
ably well,  and  has  gained  it  all  in  India.  He 
showed  us  a  letter,  beautifully  written  in  Canarese, 
from  native  princes,  with  a  translation  in  English, 
thanking  him  for  his  zeal  and  exertions  in  their 
rescue ;  it  was  accompanied  by  presents  of  several 
elegant  native  productions.    He  is  a  young  prince 


308 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


of  great  promise,  most  engaging  manners,  and 
condescending  kindness.  At  nine  they  left,  kindly 
shaking  hands  with  us  ;  and  thus  passed  as  friendly 
and  chatty  an  evening  as  I  ever  spent  with  my 
equals. 

Thursday  6th. — "  The  Countess  drove  us  to  the 
Abbey,  a  gothic  building,  which  she  erected  in  her 
own  grounds,  to  receive  the  remains  of  her  hus- 
band ;  the  vault  is  open,  and  you  see  the  Count's 
coffin  through  an  iron  grating.  Over  the  vault  is 
a  beautiful  chapel ;  a  sitting-room  fitted  up  with 
every  suitable  convenience,  in  which  she  annually 
spends  the  birth-day  of  her  husband ;  rooms  are 
also  appropriated  to  servants  who  take  care  of  the 
Abbey,  show  it  to  strangers,  and  attend  on  her 
when  she  visits  it.  The  scenery  is  very  lovely. 
The  Pavilion  is  at  some  little  distance  from  the 
Abbey.  We  were  conducted  thither  by  a  path 
behind,  from  whence  a  door  was  opened,  which 
admitted  us  to  the  colonade,  and  introduced  us  to 
one  of  the  most  enchanting  and  bewitching  pros- 
pects the  eye  ever  beheld.  The  entablature  is  sup- 
ported by  pillars  of  marble,  and  bears  this  inscrip- 
tion : — '  Conjugi  Dulcissimoa,  F.  D.  M.  Comp. 
v.  Reden,  1804.'  We  then  drove  to  the  Moss 
Cottage,  a  delicious  summer-house,  and  kept  in 
excellent  order;  from  tl^  large  windows  of  which 
were  presented  scenes  of  excessive  splendor.  After 
dinner,  we  rode  to  Erdmannsdorif,  and  went  over 
the  whole  of  the  palace,  the  rooms  of  which  are 
nothing  extraordinary.  The  furniture  is  neat,  and 
many  things  are  very  elegant,  but  the  interior  does 
not  give  the  idea  of  a  palace.  The  Duchess  of 
Liegnitz  has  a  large  house  just  by  the  palace.  She 
was  a  Count's  daughter,  whom  the  old  King  mar- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


309 


ried  after  the  death  of  his  Queen.  He  would  not 
make  her  his  Queen  by  marriage,  but  merely  his 
companion  and  protector,  and  created  her  Duchess 
of  Liegnitz.  I  presume  the  Prussian  laws  allow 
such  an  union,  but  it  is  not  after  English  taste,  nor 
according  to  the  Invs  of  God. 

"  On  Friday,  we  set  otT  with  the  Countess,  to 
visit  Wang,  a  village  about  half  way  up  to  the 
Schneekoppe.  At  Krummhiibel,  chairs  and  bear- 
ers were  provided  for  the  ladies,  to  carry  them 
up  the  mountain — sweet,  magnificent  scenes  open- 
ing on  every  turn  of  the  path.  The  church  at 
Wang  is  singularly  pretty-  It  was  originally  a 
church  in  Norway,  built  of  wood,  and  above  eight 
hundred  years  old ;  the  King  heard  it  was  to  be 
sold  for  a  comparatively  small  sura,  and  ordered 
its  purchase.  It  was  conveyed,  at  great  expense, 
to  this  exquisite  spot;  the  old  carving  restored, 
every  defective  part  repaired,  and  beautifully  finish- 
ed according  to  the  original  design,  and  now  forms 
a  most  charming  and  unique  object.  For  four 
months  in  the  year,  the  people  who  live  at  this 
elevation  have  little  communication  with  the  val- 
ley, in  consequence  of  the  snow,  and  the  good  King 
erected  it  for  their  benefit,  has  placed  a  warm- 
hearted evangelical  clergyman  there,  to  feed  their 
souls  with  the  bread  of  life,  and  a  schoolmaster  to 
instruct  their  children.  The  school-house  and  par- 
sonage form  one  continuous  building,  which  is 
ornamented  by  a  fountain  playing  in  front,  and 
such  plants  and  flowers  as  will  grow  or  blossom 
at  an  elevation  of  above  twenty-five  hundred  feet 
above  the  sea.  The  church  has  external  corridors, 
to  make  it  warmer  in  winter,  but  they  lessen  the 
size  of  the  interior.  I  played  the  organ,  and  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  singing  that  verse, — 


310  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

'Come,  Holy  Spirit,  heavenly  dove, 

With  all  thy  quickening  powers; 
Come,  shed  abroad  a  Savior's  love, 

And  that  shall  kindle  ours,' 

to  'Intercession.'  At  the  request  of  the  Countess 
and  the  good  minister,  my  dear  husband  offered  up 
a  prayer  in  the  pulpit,  for  the  glory  of  Christ,  to 
fill  the  house,  while  we  all  knelt,  and  united  hear- 
tily with  him.  We  then  sang  the  Doxology  to  the 
Old  Hundredth;  and  afterwards  went  to  the  parson- 
age to  dine,  returning  with  a  beautiful  sunset  to 
tea,  at  Buchwald,  after  a  day  of  great  refreshment, 
with  pious  minds  and  cheerful  engagements.  O 
how  good  is  my  God,  to  prepare  such  a  world  for 
my  enjoyment,  and  to  give  an  invalid  the  means, 
without  fatigue  and  distress,  of  participating  with 
others  who  are  in  health  in  its  abounding  pleasures! 

Saturday. — "The  Countess  drove  us  to  Schmiede- 
I'.erg,  a  very  pretty  town,  at  the  distance  of  about 
three  English  miles  from  her  seat.  After  making- 
purchases,  and  giving  oiders  for  embroidery  work, 
which  is  wrought  here  very  cheaply,  we  called  on 
Dr.  Weigel,  to  consult  him  on  my  case.  My  cough 
has  certainly  been  worse  the  last  three  nights, 
which  I  attribute  to  the  quantity  of  water  imme- 
diately around  Buchwald.  He  examined  me  with 
the  stethescope,  and  pronounced  that  my  lungs  are 
not  affected  ;  but  that  the  membrane  w^hich  lines 
them  is  inflamed,  and  very  irritable,  and  that,  with- 
out great  care,  it  is  not  unlikely  the  inflammation 
will  spread  to  the  lungs.  He  prescribed  for  me  a 
powder,  which  1  am  lo  take  repeatedly.  If  it 
please  my  Heavenly  Father,  for  my  child len's  sake, 
and  that  of  my  dear  husband,  whose  social  domes- 
tic disposition  would  miss  his  wife,  imperfect  as  she 
is,  I  should  be  glad  to  be  spared  ;  and  if  I  can  be 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


311 


useful  to  souls,  I  would  not  selfishly  wish  to  go  to 
heaven;  but  for  me,  to  die  will  be  gain.  In  the 
evening,  we  went  over  one  of  the  lakes  in  the 
Countess's  grounds,  to  the  Weissen-house,  another 
beautiful  cottage,  planted  in  a  retired  and  lonely- 
spot,  and  returned  by  a  winding  path  to  tea,  in  the 
orangerie. 

Sunday. — "  Went  to  church  in  the  morning  with 
the  Countess  and  family,  but  understood  very  little. 
It  is  good  to  be  where  God  is  worshipped,  and  my 
only  joy  was,  that  I  could  raise  my  heart  for  the 
worshippers,  to  Him,  who  is  not,  as  I  am,  distracted 
with  many  languages.  The  singing  was  congrega- 
tional and  well  sustained,  but  there  is  a  great  same- 
ness in  the  German  melodies,  and  breaking  the 
tune  at  the  end  of  every  line  is  not  grateful  to  an 
English  ear.  The  sermon  was  not  to  the  taste  of 
the  Countess,  as  it  wanted  heart  and  abounded  in 
repetitions.  Four  ladies  dined  with  us,  one  of 
whom  was  governess  to  the  present  Princess  of 
]5avaria,  and  the  Princess  Elizabeth,  an  exceed- 
ingly intelligent  and  interesting  woman,  for  whom 
the  Crown  has  handsomely  provided.  It  was  truly 
a  Sabbath  meal,  and  Christian  conversation,  with- 
out formality,  was  cheerfully  sustained. 

Monday. — "  Having  rained  hard  in  the  night,  it 
was  too  damp  to  take  our  intended  tour  to  the  Jose- 
phine. We  therefore  strolled  in  the  grounds,  with  our 
dear  friend  Theophilus,  finding  new  beauties  in  this 
world  and  the  next.  A  Bohemian  Catholic,  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age,  has  been  staying  here  for  a  few 
days.  He  is  undoubtedly  a  pious  man,  though  he  has 
not  yet  relinquished  the  papal  errors.  For  circulating 
the  Scriptures,  and  writing  and  translating  tracts,  to 
1  enefit  and  enlighten  his  benighted  countrymen,  he 
had  been  six  times  imprisoned  by  the  magistrates, 


312 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE ;  OR 


and  so  persecuted  by  his  Catholic  family,  with 
whom  he  lived,  that  he  had  eleven  times  previously 
taken  refuge  beneath  the  roof  of  the  Countess,  and 
this  flight  made  the  twelfth.  A  fortnight  after,  his 
family  finding  themselves  greatly  inconvenienced 
for  want  of  him,  particularly  as  he  conducted  the 
education  of  his  grand-children,  who  were  running 
wild  in  his  absence,  sent  affectionate  letters  entreat- 
ing his  return,  promising  the  cessation  of  all  hosti- 
lities and  the  gratification  of  every  wish.  Countess 
Reden  thought  it  might  do  his  family  good,  and 
serve  the  venerable  old  man,  if  some  of  them  came 
to  fetch  him.  An  invitation  was  therefore  sent, 
which  brought  his  daughter  and  two  of  her  children, 
who  remained  two  or  three  days,  while  the  sweet 
Countess  lent  her  carriage  and  servants  to  show 
them  what  was  to  be  seen.  It  was  quite  over- 
whelming to  see  the  love  and  kindness  of  that  dear 
woman  to  this  group ;  how  earnestly  she  talked  to 
them  on  filial  duty,  and  strove  to  gain  their  affec- 
tions for  their  honored  parent  and  for  Christ. 
Impressions  that  will  not  easily  be  effaced  were 
made,  and  their  gratitude  at  parting  was  truly 
affecting. 

"  We  found  groups  of  persons  continually  in  the 
grounds,  as  Buchwald  is  one  of  the  lions  of  Silesia, 
and  the  Countess  allows  all  to  come  who  choose ; 
her  intimacy  with  the  King  draws  in  many  who 
hope  to  get  a  peep  at  him  when  at  Erdmannsdorff. 
His  Majesty  recently  fitted  up  and  presented  to  her 
a  beautiful  half  circular  seat  of  marble,  with  a  grif- 
fin at  each  corner,  and  steps  ascending  to  it ;  one  of 
her  favorite  shady  walks  is  close  by,  and  thus  many 
who  go  to  see  the  Kiinig  Sitz,  see  also  its  lovely 
proprietress,  who  is  little  less  an  object  of  interest 
Ibim  bis  Majesly.    The  widow  of  General  P  , 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


313 


and  her  four  accomphshed  (laughters,  drank  tea 
with  us,  and  afterwards  united  with  the  whole 
family,  at  the  '  missionary  prayer  hour,'  which  was 
kept  this  evening,  when  good  Theophilus  gave 
some  information  about  the  Brethren's  Missions ; 
and  every  person,  including  the  servants,  contributecl 
something  to  the  Lord's  cause. 

Tuesday. — "  The  Countess  drove  us  to  Fishbach, 
the  beautiful  seat  of  Prince  William ;  where  we 
were  heartily  welcomed  by  his  Royal  Highness 
Prince  Waldemar.  After  some  friendly  and  inter- 
esting conversation  on  the  political  and  religious 
state  of  the  population,  we  went  over  the  Schloss. 
It  is  a  fine  building,  furnished  in  a  princely  style, 
with  many  memorials  of  England.  We  then  drove 
to  the  Swiss  cottage,  romantically  situated  on  the 
summit  of  a  hill,  with  a  mountain  of  considerable 
elevation  in  its  rear,  commanding  most  lovely  and 
varied  scenery.  It  has  a  lai-ge  state-room,  and  a 
number  of  small  rooms  fitted  up  with  every  accom- 
modation for  the  Court,  when  the  Royal  family  are 
in  the  neighborhood.  On  our  return  home,  we 
visited  the  Marian  Cottage,  an  elegant  little  struc- 
ture covered  with  roses  and  sweet  blooming  flowers, 
placed  in  a  valley,  but  in  a  situation  that  gives  the 
most  perfect  view  of  the  mountain  range.  It  was 
the  spot  which  the  late  pious  Princess  often  selected 
for  retirement  and  meditation,  and  in  which  she 
spent  many  of  her  evenings.  Nothing  can  well  be 
conceived  better  adapted  to  excite  flevotion  and 
gratitude,  when  the  strings  of  the  heart  are  touched 
by  the  Spirit  of  God.  Dr.  Weigel  dined  with  us, 
and  still  gives  me  hope.  I  cannot  but  cherish  it, 
and  as  nature  and  grace  both  incline  to  its  exer- 
cise, it  may  please  Him  in  whose  hand  my  times 
are,  to  favor  me  with  length  of  days;  but  I  am  not 
27 


314 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


anxious,  my  only  wish  is  to  do  and  suffer  the  will 
of  God. 

Wednesday. — "We  drove  to  Warmbrunn,  a 
pretty,  retired  and  much  frequented  German  water- 
ing-place, lying  in  one  of  the  most  romantic  valleys 
of  the  Riesengeberge,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  pay- 
ing our  respects  to  Count  Schaffgotsch,  the  princely 
proprietor  of  the  district.  The  springs  are  luke- 
warm and  sulphureous,  and  considered  very  effica- 
cious in  cases  of  gout  and  rheumatism.  We  saw 
in  the  Grilfiiche  Bath,  not  fewer  than  twenty  per- 
sons of  both  sexes,  in  suitable  dresses,  bathing  at 
one  time.  After  surveying  the  place  for  two  hours 
while  the  horses  rested,  we  proceeded  to  a  spot, 
(the  name  of  which  I  now  forget)  where  the  good 
Countess  had  written  for  a  chair  to  be  in  readiness, 
in  which  I  rode,  and  richly  enjoyed,  without  fa- 
tigue, the  exquisite  scenery.  We  went  for  a  few 
miles  by  the  side  of  the  river  Zacken,  with  rocks 
and  boulders  in  its  bed  in  terrible  confusion.  Its 
waters  occasionally  disappear  suddenly,  and  cease 
to  flow  for  several  hours;  after  which  they  as  sud- 
denly appear,  and  assume  their  usual  level,  a  phe- 
nomenon not  yet  satisfactorily  accounted  for.  We 
ascended  to  the  Kockenfall ;  picturesque,  but  not 
equal  to  some  we  have  seen.  We  went  out  of  our 
way  to  call  at  the  Rettungshaus,  (the  house  of  sal- 
vation,) where  orphans  and  children  of  the  lowest 
and  most  miserable  description  are  taken  from  evil 
habits  and  example,  and  clothed,  fed,  and  educated 
by  a  pious  man,  who  is  the  personification  of  faith 
and  self-denial.  He  believed  as  he  told  us,  that  he 
had  a  work  to  do,  and  that  God  helping  him,  he 
could  do  it.  Without  any  means  but  those  which 
God  sent  him,  mostly  from  persons  he  did  not 
know,  he  sol  about  building  a  house  for  his  desli- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  315 


tute  children,  a  few  of  whom  he  had  already 
gathered.  He  entered  it  before  the  walls  were 
(h-y,  without  a  bed,  with  only  one  spoon  for  seven 
persons,  and  scarcely  a  scrap  of  furniture  of  any 
description ;  yet  he  labored  on  amidst  incredible 
ililficulties  and  hardships,  till  God  sent  supplies,  and 
now  he  supports,  educates,  and  trains  to  industrial 
habits  above  fifty  children,  precisely  on  the  same 
principles  of  confidence  in  God.  He  is  often  in 
difficulties,  but  supplies  are  sure  to  come  in  time  for 
relief;  and  the  children  are  trained  to  this  depend- 
ence, for  they  are  told  the  circumstances  of  want, 
and  assembled  for  devotion  wlien  it  occurs,  and  for 
thanksgiving  when  the  answer  from  heaven  is  sent 
by  some  human  hand.  Once  he  was  almost  in 
despair,  no  supplies  in  the  house,  every  source  of 
help  drained  ;  the  children  and  himself  had  been 
many  hours  without  food,  but  they  had  scarcely 
left  the  Divine  throne,  where  in  weeping  and  plead- 
ing they  had  presented  their  sad  case,  when  the 
post  brought  an  anonymous  letter  with  the  Berlin 
post-mark,  enclosing  a  note  for  a  thousand  dollars. 
Such  is  the  reward  of  faith  and  humble  labor  in  the 
service  of  a  gracious  Master !  We  took  leave  of 
the  children  after  my  husband  had  addressed  them 
by  an  interpreter,  and  dropped  an  offering  into  their 
treasury,  deeply  interested  and  instructed  by  the 
visit.  We  now  ascended  to  the  Zackenfall,  far 
more  beautiful  than  the  former — viewed  both  from 
below  and  above — it  exhibits  as  the  water  falls 
over  the  rocks,  a  species  of  lace  work  indescribably 
delicate.  The  granite  rocks,  not  above  twenty  feet 
wide,  between  which  the  water  falls,  seem  as  if  cut 
straight  down  with  a  saw  for  above  100  yards. 
From  thence  we  went  to  the  Josephine,  the  Bohe- 
mian glass  factory,  and  inspected  and  purchased 


316 


THK  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


several  of  their  beautiful  productions.  Though  far 
behind  us  in  machinery,  and  rapidity  of  manufac- 
ture, they  manage  to  excel  us  in  this  singular  species 
of  many  colored  glass.  I  thought  we  should  have 
been  jolted  out  of  the  carriage,  or  overturned  many 
times  by  the  abominable  gutters  across  the  road,  so 
common  in  all  the  hilly  parts  of  Germany.  We  re- 
turned to  Warmbrunn  to  tea,  and  arrived  at  dear 
Buchvvald,  by  half-past  nine,  after  a  most  delight- 
ful and  not  over- fatiguing  excursion. 

Thursday. — "The  Countess  drove  us  to  Stones- 
dorff,  the  seat  of  the  Princess  Reus,  her  niece.  It 
is  not  in  a  good  situation  for  prospect,  and  has  no- 
thing particularly  attractive,  except  its  honored  and 
pious  inmate,  who  is  a  blessing  to  her  neighbor- 
hood. We  chatted  very  pleasantly  on  the  heavenly 
country,  and  found  a  heart  in  the  Princess  to  love 
Christ's  sheep  wherever  they  are  situated.  Though 
I  have  no  expectation  of  meeting  her  again  on 
earth,  I  shall  welcome  her  to  the  house,  where  are 
to  be  gathered  all  of  every  rank  who  have  loved 
and  served  my  Savior.  After  luncheon  with  the 
Princess,  we  visited  in  our  way  to  Buchwald,  the 
Tyrolese  school,  where  we  heard  the  children  sing 
very  prettily,  and  in  good  time.  From  the  little 
examination  we  were  able  to  make,  they  seemed  as 
well  instructed  as  children  of  their  own  age  and  cir- 
cumstances in  our  own  country.  Their  knowledge 
of  scripture,  and  scripture  history  was  exceedingly 
good. 

"  We  reserved  the  evening  of  the  day  for  a  visit 
to  two  or  three  of  the  Tyrolese  houses  and  families, 
which  are  located  on  land  appropriated  to  them 
by  the  late  King  of  Prussia.  It  appears  that  the 
Bible  had  secretly  made  its  way  to  the  Zillerthal, 
a  pastoral  valley  in  the  Tyrol,  and  produced  most 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


317 


gracious  efFects  on  the  minds  of  its  inhabitants. 
Believing  its  sacred  records,  they  of  course  became 
Protestants,  and  sought  of  Prince  Metternich  per- 
mission to  erect  a  church,  according  to  Austrian 
law,  which  allows  one  to  be  built  wherever  there 
are  a  hundred  Protestants.  But  he  rejected  their 
petition,  and  commenced  by  his  agents  a  series  of 
persecutions  against  them.  Thirsting  for  liberty 
to  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  their 
consciences,  they  dispatched  two  or  three  trusty 
men  of  their  number,  who  had  taken  the  lead  in 
zeal  and  sufferings,  to  the  late  King  of  Prussia. 
With  great  difficulty  they  obtained  passports  for 
the  purpose,  and  set  out,  with  faith  and  prayer,  on 
an  enterprise  no  less  honorable  than  hazardous. 
They  obtained  an  interview  with  the  good  King, 
who  received  the  deputation  with  much  feeling  an(l 
kindness:  they  told  him  that  they  asked  only  for 
protection  and  religious  liberty;  would  he  grant 
them  these  privileges,  and  allow  them  to  emigrate 
into  his  territory  ?  Not  only  did  his  Majesty  grant 
their  request,  but  welcoiped  them  among  his  sub- 
jects, and  set  apart  a  considerable  quantity  of  land, 
belonging  to  his  estate  at  Erdmannsdorff,  which 
they  were  to  purchase  at  a  small  sum.  It  was  his 
intention  to  have  given  them  this  land,  but  it  was 
wisely  overruled  by  the  Countess,  who  suggested 
that  it  might  create  jealousy  among  his  subjects,  if 
foreigners,  even  under  such  afflictive  circumstances, 
were  more  generously  treated  than  themselves. 
When  the  time  came  for  a  detachment  of  the  fami- 
lies to  arrive,  the  King  solicited  the  Countess  to 
undertake  the  oversight  of  them,  and  become  a 
mother  to  them — a  request  which  she  begged  the 
King  not  to  press — but  he  insisted  on  its  advan- 
tages to  them,  and  urged  such  reasons  of  personal 


318 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


gratification  to  himself,  that  she  consented.  His 
Majesty  then  wrote  a  letter  '  to  his  good  and  kind 
subjects  of  the  faithful  town  of  Schmiedeberg,' 
urging  them  to  receive  these  Protestant  emigrants, 
and  provide  for  them  as  well  as  their  circumstances 
would  permit.  Above  eight  hundred  men,  women, 
and  children,  came  to  the  town  as  one  instalment, 
and  every  nerve  was  exerted  by  the  kind  inhabi- 
tants to  respond  to  the  wishes  of  the  King,  by  pro- 
viding them  with  food,  lodging,  and  labor,  till  they 
could  be  temporarily  settled  on  their  land.  About 
five  hundred  more  came  at  an  interval  of  some 
months ;  and  in  a  town  consisting  of  only  three 
thousand  five  hundred  inhabitants,  such  an  influx 
was  not  provided  for  without  great  care,  anxiety 
and  devotedness.  Every  spare  room  in  their  dwell- 
ings, and  every  barn  and  out-house  which  could 
be  appropriatecl  for  their  dormitories,  were  cheerfully 
fitted  up ;  provisions  poured  in  as  gifts  from  all 
quarters,  and  some  began  to  fear  that  such  a  life 
of  dependence  would  decrease  their  taste  for  daily 
labor.  They  soon,  however,  commenced  building 
their  picturesque  dwellings,  and  in  a  comparatively 
short  time  were  settled  in  their  own  locality,  and 
the  land  brought  under  cultivation.  After  a  period 
of  not  more  than  ten  years,  by  industry  and  care, 
most  of  them  are  now  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
and  not  a  few  of  the  more  thrifty  have  accumulated 
property. 

"  The  houses  of  the  Tyrolese  are  large,  hand- 
some buildings,  providing  under  one  roof,  rooms 
for  the  family,  stabling  for  the  horses,  sheds  for 
the  cows  and  cattle,  and  all  the  farming  stock  and 
produce  of  their  fields.  They  have  large  stones  on 
the  roofs  at  regular  intervals,  to  prevent  the  high 
winds  from  stripping  them  in  winter.   The  Tyrolese 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


319 


generally,  and  especially  those  located  at  Erd- 
mannsdorfF,  are  a  handsome  race,  the  men  tall  and 
well  formed,  and  the  women  pretty,  though  gene- 
rally inclined  to  coarseness.  The  costumes  both 
of  the  men  and  women  are  tasteful  and  becoming. 
We  were  welcomed  into  their  houses,  accompanied 
by  the  good  Countess,  whom  they  saluted  very 
respectfully  with  '  How  do  you  do,  mother  ?'  and 
seemed  delighted  to  see  her.  She  has  been  a 
mother,  indeed,  to  them,  purchasing  large  quantities 
of  cloth,  and  other  articles,  and  letting  them  have 
them  under  cost  price ;  gaining  for  them  a  church, 
and  the  appointment  of  an  evangelical  minister, 
and  extensive  spiritual  and  temporal  privileges. 
When  my  husband  asked  their  leader  if  he  could 
speak  English,  he  replied,  pointing  to  the  Countess, 
'  No,  but  my  mother  can.'  By  her  aid,  he  entered 
into  a  long  examination  of  their  religious  senti- 
ments and  experience,  and  it  was  very  refreshing 
to  find  them  so  well  grounded  in  the  faith  and 
hope  of  the  gospel.  I  know  not  when  I  have  spent 
a  more  delightful  hour.  The  Countess,  however, 
seemed  to  think  their  piety  had  declined — pros- 
perity had  not  been  so  favorable  to  its  growth  as 
persecution  and  suffering.  I  cannot  help  believing 
that  though  its  freshness  and  joy  had  abated,  its 
reality  was  manifest,  and  God  knows  how  by  trials 
of  another  kind,  to  promote  its  growth ;  but  the 
style  of  ministry  they  hear,  as  far  as  I  could  judge 
of  it,  does  not  appear  to  be  very  quickening — I 
think  I  should  soon  become  dead  under  it. 

Friday,  lAth. — "  The  Countess  drove  us  to 
Biirshberg,  to  her  shepherd's  house.  It  has  a  pret- 
ty cottage  attached  to  it,  containing  four  rooms  on 
the  ground  floor,  and  two  above.  Sir  J.  Riddell, 
with  his  family,  resided  here  for  four  months,  to 


320 


THE  PASTOR  S   WIFE  ;  OR 


enjoy  the  beauties  of  the  romantic  scenery,  to 
which  he  was  no  stranger.  The  Countess  related 
to  us  the  pleasing  circumstance,  which  commenced 
a  friendship,  that  has  now  endured  without  a  breach 
for  nearly  forty  years,  and  which  illustrates  her 
lowly  character.  One  day,  while  trimming  some 
flowers  in  the  grounds  at  Buchwald,  she  saw  her 
gardener  accompanying  a  gentleman  and  his  ser- 
vant, and  as  they  passed  her,  she  said  to  him  in 
English,  '  Is  this  your  first  lime  in  these  parts  ?' 
He  was  much  surprised  to  hear  himself  addressed 
in  English,  and  replied  that  he  had  been  amusing 
himself  by  taking  views  of  the  lovely  scenery — the 
Countess  inspected  them,  and  immediately  felt  they 
were  the  pencillings  of  no  ordinary  genius.  Her 
plain  dress  did  not  give  him  the  idea  that  she  was 
the  Countess  ;  yet  her  manners  were  so  courtly, 
that  he  could  not  class  her  with  inferior  persons, 
and  to  gain  the  important  information,  he  expressed 
a  strong  desire  to  see  the  lady  for  whom  the  Pa- 
vilion was  built,  and  the  gentleman  who  erected  it, 
and  placed  that  inscription  over  it.  '  You  can  see 
him,'  replied  the  Countess,  '  if  you  will  come  and 
dine  with  him  to-day' — he  consented,  and  gave  his 
name,  'James  Riddell  of  Scotland.'  When  she 
returned  she  told  the  Count,  who  had  strong  par- 
tialities for  Englishmen,  that  she  had  invited  a 
Scotchman  to  dine  with  him,  at  which  he  was 
much  delighted ;  but  the  house  was  very  full  of 
company  of  the  highest  rank,  and  as  the  country 
was  at  that  time  the  seat  of  war,  they  suspected 
that  in  her  kindness  she  might  have  invited  a  spy. 
The  belligerent  parties  had  concluded  an  armistice, 
that  the  vale  of  Hirschberg,  which  included  Buch- 
wald, should  be  exempted  from  the  operations  of 
war;  therefore  many  families  had  fled  to  this  vale, 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


321 


and  crowded  their  friends'  houses  for  safety  and 
comfort.  However,  at  the  hour  appointed,  an  ele- 
gant English  carriage  drove  up  with  a  servant  in 
livery — which  at  once  silenced  all  objections — a 
hearty  welcome  was  given  by  the  Count  to  his 
guest,  the  relatives  and  friends  soon  became  ac- 
quainted with  him,  and  instead  of  visiting  them 
only  for  a  day,  he  stayed  three  weeks,  and  formed 
a  friendship  which  has  lasted  to  this  hour  in  all  its 
original  freshness.  Sir  James  has  inscribed  his 
gratitude  in  the  rock  at  the  back  of  this  cottage, 
'  Fur  Reden's  Gute — Riddel's  Danke.'  How  im- 
portant is  the  Apostle's  maxim,  '  Be  not  forgetful 
to  entertain  strangers,  for  thereby  some  have  en- 
tertained angels  unawares.'  Sir  James  has  taken 
twenty-nine  views  of  the  various  prospects  in  the 
grounds  at  Buchwald,  but  they  are  by  no  means 
exhausted,  and  many  of  the  improvements  are 
owing  to  his  taste  and  advice. 

"The  Countess  Stolberg,  having  heard  of  us 
from  Countess  Reden,  came  to  pay  us  a  visit,  and 
dined  with  us.  The  magnificent  pair  of  horses  to 
her  carriage  were  the  finest  we  have  seen  out  of 
England.  She  is  a  very  pious  and  charming  Chris- 
tian— with  a  simplicity  and  energy  that  quite  de- 
lighted us  both.  Where  piety  does  exist  in  the 
upper  classes  in  Germany,  it  appears  to  shine  with 
great  lustre.  In  the  afternoon  she  accompanied  us, 
with  good  Theophilus,  to  the  Lake,  where  we  were 
rowed  for  an  hour,  and  on  our  return  found  Baron 
Riedesel,  the  only  brother  of  the  Countess,  who, 
with  his  wife  and  son,  had  come  on  a  visit  to  his 
sisters.  He  is  land  Marslial  of  Saxe  Weimar,  some- 
thing, as  I  understand  it,  analogous  to  our  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Commons.  He  is  a  very  fine,  tall 
man,  full  of  cheerful  wit,  a  most  happy  companion. 


322 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


condescending  to  all  around  him,  and,  of  course,  a 
general  favorite  with  servants  and  friends.  I  hope 
the  example  of  this  lovely  family  will  not  be  lost 
upon  my  habits ;  I  am  sure  kindness  brings  its 
ample  reward,  not  only  from  others,  but  in  its  very 
exercise. 

Saturday  15th. — "  Walked  with  the  Countess  to 
Querl,  a  small  village  beautifully  situated,  and  re- 
turned over  the  lake  with  her  brother  and  nephew. 
In  the  evening  we  went  with  her  to  Armsdorff,  to 
her  largest  farm  ;  and  took  tea  under  an  arbor, 
where  we  had  an  exquisite  view  of  the  mountains, 
different  from  all  the  others  we  had  been  favored 
to  behold. 

Sunday  16M. — "Went  to  church  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  service  was  not  very  lively,  and  the  sermon 
seemed  to  produce  but  little  efli'ect.  Oh,  for  a  revi- 
val of  godliness  in  these  parts  of  our  Savior's  ter- 
ritory !  Lively  preaching  goes  far  to  make  lively 
hearers.  My  husband  is  gone  to  Wang,  with  the 
Baron,  to  hear  good  Mr.  Werkentien,  and  intends 
early  to-morrow  morning,  to  commence  the  ascent 
of  the  Schneekoppe.  May  he  be  preserved  and 
blessed  in  his  journey !  Affliction  makes  me  feel 
more  than  ever  the  briefest  separation.  But  we 
shall  be  united  in  our  Father's  house,  and  oh  !  pre- 
cious fact,  '  go  no  more  out  for  ever.' 

Monday  and  Tuesday. — "  I  spent  in  occasional 
walks  in  the  grounds,  and  in  conversation  with 
these  two  lovely  women ;  the  more  I  see  of  them, 
the  more  of  Christ's  image  appears.  Did  I  ever 
expect  such  honor  and  happiness  before  I  reached 
heaven,  as  have  been  granted  to  me  in  this  abode 
of  peace  and  holiness  !  If  I  am  to  be  called  early 
away  from  my  precious  family,  this  seems  a  pre- 
paration, in  which  God  would  show  me  what  saints 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


323 


can  be  out  of  heaven,  and  what  I  may  expect  to 
find  them  in  heaven. 

Wednesday  19th. — "  My  husband  returned  last 
evening,  dehghted  with  his  excursion,  and  with  the 
Baron,  who  has  been  an  excellent  guide,  and  most 
cheerful  companion  ;  this  morning  we  prepared  to 
leave  this  earthly  paradise,  endeared  to  me  for  its 
own  beauties,  but  especially  by  the  sweets  of  Chris- 
tian love.  My  heart  was  knit  closely  to  both, 
more  particularly  to  Miss  Caroline  Riedesel,  as  I 
could  talk  to  her  in  French,  more  than  my  dear 
husband  could.  We  do  love  one  another  with  pure 
hearts  fervently.  When  solicited  to  select  a  spot 
for  a  seat,  to  be  called  '  Sherman's  Sitz,'  she  said 
we  must  go  together  there,  and  so  remember  when 
absent  one  from  the  other,  that  there  we  sent  up 
mutual  prayers,  for  that  blessing  and  presence 
which  is  '  better  than  life.'  At  half-past  six  this 
morning,  we  took  coffee  in  our  room ;  the  dear 
Countess,  her  brother,  and  sister,  and  Theophilus 
all  joining  us.  My  heart  was  almost  too  full  for 
utterance,  when  I  pressed  for  the  last  time  those 
dear  cheeks,  and  said  '  God  bless  you,  adieu.'  We 
shook  hands  with  a  train  of  servants  at  the  door, 
and  entering  the  Countess's  carriage,  were  soon  on 
our  way  from  Buchwald  to  Hirschberg,  where  we 
took  post  to  Bautzen,  and  had  very  nice  apart- 
ments, but  little  sleep  for  my  cough. 

"We  proceeded  by  railway,  to  Dresden,  and 
after  resting  a  while,  went  on  to  Wittenberg,  the 
cradle  of  the  Reformation.  In  the  morning,  we 
saw  Luther's  cell,  (as  they  call  it,)  in  the  late  Uni- 
versity, in  which  he  was  Professor  of  Divinity  and 
Philosophy.  It  is  now  a  school  only,  as  the  Uni- 
versity is  removed  to  Halle.  Here  they  also 
f;]iowcd  us  Luther's  drinking  cup,  and  the  chair  and 


324 


THE  pastor's  wife:  or 


table  at  which  he  sat.  On  the  wall  is  written, 
*  Peter  the  Great,'  with  his  own  hand.  We  saw 
the  graves  of  Luther  and  Melancthon,  which  are 
covered  with  bronze  plates,  and  the  tombs  of  Frede- 
rick the  Wise,  and  John  the  Steadfast,  the  Electors 
of  Saxony,  friends  of  Luther  and  the  Reformation. 
Outside  the  Scbloss  Kirche,  Luther  hung  up  his 
eighty-five  arguments  against  indulgences.  Oppo- 
site to  the  Town  Hall,  is  a  splendid  bronze  statue 
of  Luther,  engraved  beneath,  '  If  it  be  the  word  of 
God  it  will  endure,  if  of  man  then  it  will  perish.' 
The  spot  where  he  burnt  the  Bull,  by  which  Leo 
X.  condemned  his  doctrines,  and  excommunicated 
him,  is  marked  by  an  iron-railing  round  an  oak, 
outside  the  Elster  gate. 

At  noon  we  proceeded  to  Berlin,  where  we  ar- 
rived a  little  before  one,  and  took  up  our  residence 
at  the  Hotel  du  Nord,  in  that  superb  street,  the 
Linden.  During  our  stay  at  Buchwald,  the 
Countess  stated  that  the  King,  during  one  of  his 
visits  to  her,  had  seen  one  of  my  dear  husband's 
books  on  her  table.  After  perusing  a  few  pages, 
and  learning  from  the  Countess  something  of  the 
author,  he  expressed  a  wish  to  see  him  the  next 
time  he  came  to  Silesia.  Accordingly  she  wrote 
a  letter  to  inform  his  Majesty  that  we  were  to  re- 
main in  Berlin  four  or  five  days,  and  if  his  majesty 
wished  to  see  him,  he  was  staying  at  the  Hotel  du 
Nord.  This  letter  was  enclosed  m  another,  to  the 
Geheimarard,  or  treasurer  to  the  King,  (M.  Schon- 
ing,)  which  my  husband  took  to  the  Minister's 
hotel  to  deliver,  but  learning  that  he  was  at  Potz- 
dam,  he  put  it  in  the  post. 

"  Next  morning,  22nd,  we  called  on  the  Countess 
ScheiTer,  who  accompanied  us  to  see  Gosncr,  the 
famous  veteran  preacher.    He  entertained  us  with 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


325 


the  liveliest  exhibitions  of  the  gospel,  pouring  out 
love  to  all  the  saints,  and  related  anecdotes  of  the 
influence  of  truth  on  German  minds,  which  were 
very  refreshing ;  it  was  a  delightful  visit.  From 
thence  we  went  to  Charlottenberg,  a  royal  chateau 
of  Frederick  the  Great ;  saw  the  Doric  Temple,  in 
which  are  interred  Frederick  William  and  his 
beautiful  Queen ;  two  lovely  cenotaphs  represent 
them,  by  Ranch,  the  sculptor.  Texts  of  Scrip- 
ture are  inscribed  all  round  the  room.  Seven  gar- 
lands still  hang  there,  which  were  presented  by  her 
seven  children  at  her  death.  The  building  is  of 
polished  granite,  most  beautiful !  On  returning  to 
our  hotel  we  met  one  of  our  waiters  in  breathless 
haste,  who  had  pursued  us  to  say  the  King's  mes- 
senger had  arrived  to  invite  my  husband  to  dine 
with  his  Majesty,  at  three  o'clock,  at  Charlotten- 
hofF.  We  were  three  miles  from  Berlin,  and  it 
was  nearly  two  o'clock,  at  which  hour  the  train  for 
Potzdam  left.  This  was,  of  course,  mortifying 
enough ;  but  there  was  no  possibility  of  reaching 
the  palace  by  two  ;  and,  therefore,  by  the  advice  of 
our  courier,  he  travelled  by  courier  post,  and  ar- 
rived at  CharlottenhofT  just  as  dinner  was  con- 
cluded. I  rested  at  home — scarcely  rested — for  I 
was  very  anxious  to  know  how  the  King  received 
him ;  and  should  have  enjoyed  being  in  some 
secret  spot  to  survey  the  whole  scene.  But  I  prayed 
that  his  visit  might  not  be  without  some  gracious 
effect ;  I  think  God  heard  me,  and  hope  events 
may  justify  my  confidence.  It  was  nearly  twelve 
o'clock  before  he  returned,  and  though  my  cough 
had  driven  me  to  bed,  I  could  not  help  listening  to 
his  most  interesting  detail,  and  even  when  asleep 
dreaming  about  it.  Lest  my  memory  should  betray 
1110,  T  recorded,  as  soon  as  possible,  the  more 
2S 


326 


THE  PASTOR  S  AVIFE;  OR 


striking  parts  of  the  delightful  interview.  He  ar- 
rived at  Charlottenhoff,  a  beautiful  summer-house, 
belonging  to  the  Palace  of  Sans  Souci,  at  half  past 
four,  the  postillion  having  driven  at  a  very  smart 
pace.  The  carriage  drove  through  a  long  line  of 
equipages,  belonging  to  the  guests  whom  the  King 
had  invited  to  the  banquet ;  a  carpet  was  spread  on 
the  grass,  under  the  shade  of  some  magnificent 
trees,  and  a  long  table  placed,  at  which  eighteen 
persons  were  seated.  He  gave  his  card  to  a  short 
gentleman,  in  a  blue  coat  and  red  collar,  who  went 
back  to  the  table  and  handed  it  to  the  King.  Im- 
mediately the  King  rose,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  this 
official  personage,  and  advanced  to  the  tri-colored 
rope,  which  hung  in  festoons  from  the  posts  fixed 
on  the  edge  of  the  carriage  road,  to  prevent  intru- 
sion on  the  royal  <  preserve.'  The  rope  was  un- 
hooked, and  he  was  invited  to  enter ;  the  King 
advanced  to  him,  and  stretching  out  both  his  open 
hands  clasped  my  husband's,  saying,  '  Oh,  dear 
Sherman,  I  am  glad  to  see  you — how  was  it  you 
did  not  come  earlier  ?'  Thanking  his  Majesty  for 
his  invitation  and  undeserved  kindness,  he  explain- 
ed the  circumstances  which  had  painfully  detained 
him  from  his  presence.  The  King  expressed  great 
anxiety  lest  he  had  not  dined,  and  wished  him  to 
retire  into  the  palace  and  have  some  refreshment ; 
but  not  liking  to  lose  the  society  of  his  Majesty  for 
such  a  length  of  time,  he  declined,  and  the  King 
ordered  some  coffee  with  a  kind  of  rusk,  to  be 
handed  to  him,  of  which  he  partook.  The  King 
stood  talking  to  him  with  great  familiarity  and  con- 
descension for  a  considerable  time,  on  a  variety  of 
interesting  topics.  Two  I  specially  recollect,  be- 
cause they  show  his  feelings  to  be  favorable  to 
evangelical  piety.    Upon  his  stating  that  we  had 


MEMOIR   OF   MRS.  SHERMAN. 


327 


that  morning  had  an  interesting  visit  to  Gosner,  the 
King  remamed,  '  Ah,  Mr.  Sherman,  1  can  recol- 
lect the  time  when  Gosner  was  the  only  evan- 
gelical minister  in  Berlin,  and  now  I  thank  God, 
I  have  twenty  who  preach  the  gospel — that  is 
an  omen  of  great  good  to  my  people.'  He  gladly 
responded  to  such  a  sentiment  from  Royal  lips, 
and  followed  up  the  remark  by  showing  the  ad- 
vantages ot  the  gospel  in  the  formation  of  character — 
fitting  all  to  be  good  subjects ;  but  it  must  have  been 
peculiarly  refreshing  to  hear  such  views  proclaimed 
from  high  places,  and  in  the  presence  of  some  whose 
love  to  spiritual  piety  might  be  questioned. 

"  The  other  topic  related  to  the  influence  of  the 
Bible  on  war.  The  King  had  been  describing,  for 
his  information  and  entertainment,  the  order  and 
discipline  of  the  Prussian  army,  and  particularly 
the  facility  with  which  they  could  concentrate  an 
army  to  the  number  of  200,000  men,  in  three  or 
four  days,  at  any  given  point,  with  many  other  in- 
teresting circumstances  connected  with  their  move- 
ments. Thinking  it  desirable  to  throw  in  a  word 
for  peace,  he  replied,  '  but  your  Majesty  has  done 
much  for  peace,  by  circulating  the  Scriptures.  The 
principles  of  peace  must  take  root  in  the  hearts 
which  know  and  love  the  Bible,  and  if  all  the  world 
acted  upon  its  injunctions,  we  should  find  it  difficult 
to  raise  an  army  any  where.'  '  Yes,'  said  the 
King,  '  I  know  that ;  but  the  time  has  not  arrived 
when  your  peace  principles  can  be  carried  out.  I 
had  long  conversations  with  that  most  amiable  per- 
son, Mrs.  Fry,  on  the  subject,  and,  though  I  could 
not  arrive  at  her  conclusions,  still  no  restrictions 
shall  be  placed  on  the  circulation  of  the  Bible  in  my 
dominions.  I  suppose  you  refer  to  the  Hirschberg 
Bible,  but  you  do  me  an  honor  that  does  not  belong 


328 


THE  PASTOR  S   WIFE  ;  OR 


to  me ;  it  was  that  dear  woman  with  whom  you 
have  been  staying,  Countess  Reden,  who  revised 
the  old  edition,  saw  it  through  the  press,  wrote  the 
preface,  superhitended  it,  and  circuhited  many  thou- 
sand copies.  I  only  gave  it  my  sanction.  O !  my 
God,  what  should  I  do  without  the  labors  of  that 
devoted  person !' 

"  The  King  then  entered  very  freely,  and  with 
great  warmth  and  feeling,  into  many  purely  experi- 
mental topics,  such,  as  my  husband  remarked,  you 
would  ordinarily  hear  from  the  lips  of  a  person 
whose  mind  was  imbued  with  the  living  truths  of 
the  gospel,  and  which  gave  him  the-impression  that 
he  must  be  one  of  God's  own  children  ;  to  this  con- 
clusion he  would  have  arrived  at  once,  respecting 
any  one  using  the  same  language  who  had  applied 
to  him  for  church  membership.  After  the  King  had 
stood  thus  conversing  for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
he  said,  '  You  know  my  nephew.  Prince  Walde- 
mar,'  and  immediately  introducing  him,  and  left 
them  together.  The  Prince  then  introduced  him  to 
Baron  Humboldt,  the  distinguished  philosopher  and 
traveller,  to  Ranch,  the  sculptor,  and  to  the  four 
aides-de-camp  who  were  in  attendance,  beside 
other  celebrated  personages,  whose  names  I  forget. 
After  a  short  time  the  King  returned,  and  asked  my 
husband  to  accompany  him  to  the  gardens  at  the 
back  front  of  the  little  palace,  which  were  exceed- 
ingly beautiful,  where,  in  the  most  affable  manner, 
his  Majesty  pointed  out  the  beauties  of  the  place, 
and  entered  into  very  animated  conversation,  in  the 
course  of  which  he  said,  'As  you  have  been  to 
Charlottenberg  this  morning,  I  presume  you  are  fond 
of  sculpture?'  and  on  his  replying  that  he  was, 
'  then  I  assure  you,'  said  the  King,  '  that  you  have 
not  seen  the  best  of  Rauch's  performances.  I  shouhl 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.  SHERMAN.  329 

very  much  wish  you  to  see  those  at  Potzdam. 
Rauch,  go  with  Mr.  Sherman,  and  show  him  your 
exquisite  chiselling;'  and  upon  his  expressing  his 
pleasure  to  do  so,  he  called  one  of  his  aides-de- 
camp, '  Come,  B.,  it  will  be  a  nice  exercise  for 
you  to  go  with  Mr.  Sherman  and  Rauch,  and  talk 
English,'  which  he  readily  did ;  and  in  a  few 
minutes  one  of  the  Royal  carriages  was  driven 
out,  and  the  favored  party  of  three  started  for 
the  Mausoleum,  in  which  these  statues  are  placed, 
the  King  wishing  them  a  pleasant  journey,  and 
commanding  them  to  return  to  tea  at  seven 
o'clock,  to  the  palace  of  Sans  Souci.  Every  thing 
had  been  prepared  for  their  reception,  the  old 
Castellan  was  waiting  on  the  steps  to  conduct 
them,  and  a  bright  sunset  favored  the  exhibition,  by 
sending  its  descending  rays  on  a  pink  curtain,  which 
gives  to  the  statues  much  the  appearance  of  flesh. 
The  figures  of  the  King  and  Queen  repose  on 
marble  sarcophagi.  The  face  of  the  latter  is  one 
of  extreme  beauty,  and  an  exact  likeness.  The 
description  which  Russel  gives  of  the  sculptured 
figure  at  Charlottenberg,  equally  applies  to  this, 
only  that  it  is  the  exact  size  of  life,  and  more  care  has 
been  displayed  in  the  finish  and  the  drapery.  'The 
expression  is  not  that  of  dull,  cold  death,  but  of 
undisturbed  repose.  The  hands  are  modestly  folded 
on  the  breast,  the  attitude  easy,  graceful  and  natu- 
ral. Only  the  countenance  and  part  of  the  neck 
are  bare,  the  rest  of  the  figure  is  shrouded  in  an 
ample  and  extremely  well- wrought  drapery.  The 
great  charm  of  the  figure  is  the  decent,  simple, 
tranquil  air,  without  any  striving  after  effect.  I 
observed  no  inscription — no  pompous  catalogue  of 
her  titles — no  parading  eulogy  of  her  virtues ;  the 
Prussian  eagle  alone,  at  the  foot  of  the  sarcopha- 
28* 


330 


THE  PASTOR  S   WIFE  )  OR 


gus,  announces  that  she  belonged  to  the  house  of 
Hohenzellern.'  M.  Rauch  was  exceedingly  atten- 
tive and  polite,  giving  every  explanation  of  its 
principal  characteristics,  and  directing  observation 
to  parts  which  had  cost  him  most  labor  and 
anxiety,  and  which  he  considered  superior,  and 
rendering  the  examination  of  this,  his  chef  d^auvre, 
peculiarly  interesting.  When  they  left,  my  hus- 
band offered  a  handsome  douceur  to  the  Castellan, 
but,  though  repeatedly  urged,  he  would  not  receive 
it,  saying  that  '  the  pleasure  he  had  in  showing 
them  to  a  friend  of  his  Majesty,  was  ample  com- 
pensation ;'  but  as  I  had  no  claim  to  that  appella- 
tion, he  did  not  hesitate  to  receive  it  when  I  visited 
the  place  on  the  Tuesday  following. 

They  then  drove  through  the  palace  grounds  for 
some  miles,  to  Sans  Souci.  After  a  few  minutes,  the 
King  came  to  my  husband  in  the  garden,  and  en- 
quired solicitously  about  his  opinion  of  the  sculp- 
ture, to  which  he  could  reply  only  in  terms  of 
deserved  eulogy,  and  while  in  conversation,  a  band 
of  music  was  heard  in  the  distance,  concerning 
which  his  Majesty  remarked,  '  I  am  glad  you  have 
happened  to  come  and  see  me  to-day,  for  it  is  the 
anniversary  of  my  Orphan  School,  with  which  I 
am  sure  you  will  be  gratified  ;  that  band  announces 
the  approach  of  the  children — there  are  eleven 
hundred  of  them — six  hundred  boys  and  five  hun- 
dred girls.  They  walk  through  the  palace  grounds, 
pay  their  respects  to  me,  and  then  return  to  the 
village.  I  have  ordered  all  the  fountains  to  play 
to  please  them,  so  that  you  see  the  grounds  to 
better  advantage  than  on  an  ordinary  occasion.' 
In  a  few  minutes  the  children  entered,  the  band 
composed  of  boys,  who  preceded,  and  after  six 
hundred  had  passed,  four  abreast,  the  girls  followed. 


MEMOIR   OF    MRS.  SHERMAN. 


331 


First  they  walked  in  front  of  the  palace,  in  a  par- 
terre decorated  with  orange  and  lemon  trees,  in 
full  bearing,  with  multitudes  of  beauteous  flowers, 
which  scented  the  air  with  their  fragrance,  and  in 
the  midst  of  which  two  fountains  of  great  taste 
were  playing — then  passing  by  the  graves  of  the 
horse  and  dogs  of  Frederick  the  Great,  they  came 
in  front  of  a  terrace,  where  the  King  and  Prince 
Waldemar  had  placed  themselves.  Here  they  be- 
gan to  descend  the  steps  of  several  terraces,  leading 
down  into  a  valley  of  great  beauty,  where  a  foun- 
tain shoots  its  waters  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
high,  which,  caught  by  the  wind,  fall  in  most 
graceful  drapery.  As  they  passed,  the  King  stroked 
one  child's  head,  and  then  another,  uttering  the 
kindest  expressions,  either  of  piety  or  good-will — to 
one,  '  I  hope  you  read  your  Bible' — to  another, 
'  You  must  love  God,  He  has  been  so  good  to  you' — 
to  a  third,  'You  prayed  for  me,  did  you  not?' 
— to  another,  'Ah,  you  rogue,  I  see  you  are 
tired' — to  his  companion,  '  You  think  often  of 
your  afflicted  mother,  I  hope,  who  needs  your 
affection.'  To  these  and  many  other  kind  expres- 
sions, some  of  which  drew  tears  from  the  bystanders, 
respectful  replies  were  given.  As  soon  as  they  had 
passed,  the  King  said  to  the  Prince,  'Come,  Wal- 
demar,' and  immediately  both  descended  the  steps 
at  a  smart  pace,  going  before  the  children,  who  al- 
lowed the  King  and  Prince  to  precede  them  for  some 
distance,  and  then  completely  surroimded  them. 
Now  a  scene  began  which  prostrated  my  husband's 
notions  of  the  sovereign's  dignity  and  the  people's 
subjection — for,  in  a  moment,  one  girl  was  seen 
holding  the  King's  arm,  another  his  hand,  another 
hanging  on  his  collar,  another  kneeling  and  era- 
bracing  his  leg,  all  crowding  to  get  at  him,  shout- 


332  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

ing  and  rejoicing  that  they  had  made  the  King  and 
the  Prince  prisoners — while  the  perspiration  poured 
from  both  through  the  heat  and  fatigue.  Yet, 
when  the  King  broke  away  from  them,  all  returned 
orderly  to  their  ranks,  struck  up  a  German  air,  and 
went  joyfully  through  the  grounds  to  their  school. 
My  husband  describes  this  unexpected  occurrence 
as  one  of  the  most  interesting  scenes  he  ever  wit- 
nessed— partly  from  the  surprise  it  occasioned — 
but  specially  as  showing  the  tendency  of  a  mind  en- 
lightened by  the  gospel,  to  please  as  well  as  teach 
children.  As  he  followed  the  King  at  a  distance, 
talking  to  Prince  Waldemar,  his  Majesty  turned 
and  said,  '  Ah,  Sherman !  what,  are  you  there  ?' 
you  have  not  surely  come  all  this  distance  to  see 
my  frolics  with  the  children.'  He  replied,  very 
characteristically,  wishing,  I  doubt  not,  that  he 
could  have  taken  his  share  in  the  sport,  '  O,  your 
Majesty,  it  is  worth  going  any  distance  to  behold 
such  a  pleasant  scene.  I  shall  remember  it  to  my 
latest  day.  God  will  bless  your  Majesty  for  your 
care  and  kindness  to  orphans.'  '  Yes,'  said  the 
King,  'it  is  very  pleasant  to  see  them  snatched 
from  misery,  if  from  nothing  worse,  well  clothed, 
fed,  and  evangelically  educated ;  you  see  they 
are  very  happy,  and  have  no  objection  to  a  gambol.' 

"  The  King  conversed  very  freely  all  the  way 
back  to  the  palace,  where  between  the  two  small 
fountains,  in  the  open  air,  a  large  circular  tabic 
was  placed,  round  which  the  party  sat,  and  tea  was 
served.  After  tea,  the  lamps  were  brought,  and 
some  German,  French  and  English  newspapers,  the 
substance  of  which  Baron  Humboldt  gave  to  the 
King  in  a  very  clever  manner.  A  book  written  by 
an  Englishman,  describing  the  customs  and  habits 
of  the  JSerliners,  from  a  residence  of  some  months 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


U33 


among  them,  occasioned  great  merriment  from  its 
incorrect  quotations  of  German  phraseology,  its  bur- 
lesque, and  ignorance  of  the  subjects  of  which  it  pro- 
fessed to  treat ;  one  of  the  volumes,  I  presume,  in  this 
book-making  age,  which  is  got  up  to  obtain  money. 
During  the  intervals  of  reading,  the  King  kept  up 
a  very  lively  conversation  on  the  habits  of  the  Eng- 
lish, and  exhibited  very  extensive  information  on 
the  character  of  our  nobility  and  on  various  parts 
of  the  scenery  of  our  country.  He  described  Chats- 
worth  and  its  beauties  with  great  minuteness,  and 
sent  out  now  and  then  a  playful  sally  against  some 
of  our  eccentric  customs.  Though  several  took 
part  in  the  conversation,  the  King  was  the  chief 
speaker,  and  with  great  eloquence  and  spirit  sus- 
tained his  interesting  descriptions  and  sentiments, 
often  appealing  to  my  husband  for  confirmation  and 
explanation,  for  the  purpose,  very  likely,  of  draw- 
ing him  out.  At  nine  o'clock  sapper  was  an- 
nounced, when  the  King  rose  and  all  retired  into 
the  saloon  in  the  palace ;  the  provision  was  suited 
to  a  king's  table,  but  nothing  that  could  be  called 
extravagant ;  and  after  another  pleasant  hour  spent 
in  lively  conversation,  the  time  arrived  when  he 
must  leave  for  the  train.  The  King  observed  the 
hour,  and,  rising,  walked  to  the  end  of  the  table  to 
meet  my  husband,  opened  both  his  hands,  and 
taking  his  hand  between  them,  said,  *  I  have  been 
very  much  gratified,  Mr.  Sherman,  by  your  ac- 
quaintance to-day  ;  1  hope  you  will  never  visit  Ber- 
lin without  informing  me,  and  that  when  you  do 
you  will  come  to  see  me.  One  of  my  carriages  is 
at  the  door  to  convey  you  to  the  train,  and  1 

have  requested  Count  B          to  accompany  you 

to  Berlin,  and  see  you  safely  to  your  hotel.' 
This  most  unexpected  and  gratifying  speech  com- 


334 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


pletely  stopped  his  power  of  utterance  for  a  mo- 
ment, but  recovering  himself  he  expressed,  in  grate- 
ful terms,  his  deep  sense  of  his  Majesty's  conde- 
scension and  kindness.  Thus  ended  a  visit  which 
left  the  most  pleasing  impressions  of  the  Christian 
feeling  and  superior  talent  of  the  King  of  Prussia. 
Had  the  King  known  my  husband  for  years,  he 
could  not  have  evinced  greater  attention  or  respect ; 
and  may  I  not  believe  that  it  has  been  wholly  on 
account  of  his  religious  character  and  useful 
writings,  that  such  marked  favors  have  been  shown 
him  ?    To  God  be  the  glory. 

"  Berlin  is  a  city  well  worth  a  survey ;  to  my 
taste  it  is  one  of  the  finest  in  Europe.  Its  museum 
and  picture-gallery  contain  many  very  valuable  and 
beautiful  specimens,  both  of  sculpture  and  painting. 
The  Brandenburg  Gate  is  a  splendid  architectural 
ornament  to  the  city.  The  car  of  victory  which 
surmounts  it,  Bonaparte  took,  in  1806,  to  Paris,  as 
a  trophy  of  war,  but  it  was  restored  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Waterloo.  In  front  of  the  museum  is  a  basin 
of  granite,  twenty-two  feet  in  diameter,  cut  from 
an  isolated  boulder,  which  rested  nearly  thirty 
miles  from  Berlin,  and  which  was  brought  by  a 
flat-bottomed  boat,  on  the  river  Spree,  to  the  city, 
and  there  polished,  by  means  of  a  steam-engine. 
Statues  of  Bliichcr,  Bulow,  and  Scharnhorst,  stand 
near  the  guard-house,  executed  by  Rauch,  and  all 
of  them  works  of  great  merit.  Other  statues, 
some  of  them  not  very  delicate,  abound  every 
where.  We  were  much  interested  in  the  studio 
of  Rauch,  especially  with  the  portions  of  the 
splendid  monument  he  is  preparing  to  the  me- 
mory of  Frederick  the  Great,  which  he  politely 
showed  us. 

25th. — "  At  half-past  seven,  we  went  by  rail- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


335 


road  with  our  guide,*  to  Potzdam,  where  we 
breakfasted.  We  saw  first  the  Pfauen  Insel,  or 
Peacock  Island,  where  stands  a  pretty  little  palace, 
the  hobby  of  the  late  King,  but  chiefly  remarkable 
for  its  exquisite  hot-houses,  containing  some  of  the 
highest  palm-trees  in  Europe.  The  river  Havel 
here  expands  into  a  beautiful  lake,  in  the  midst  of 
which  this  island  is  situated ;  it  abounds  with  the 
choicest  trees  and  plants,  beautifully  tended  and 
watered  by  pipes  under  ground.  A  miniature  fri- 
gate, presented  by  William  IV.  of  England  to  the 
late  King,  greatly  ornaments  this  spot.  Next  we 
proceeded  to  Glienecke,  a  villa  belonging  to  Prince 
Karl,  and  most  tastefully  fitted  up  in  the  English 
style.  Potzdam  was  founded  by  the  great  Elector 
of  Brandenberg,  but  owes  all  its  splendor  to  Frede- 
rick the  Great.  It  was  the  residence  of  the  Prus- 
sian princes  during  the  rising  fortunes  of  the  Royal 
house ;  it  has  four  Royal  residences  in  and  around 
it.  In  the  garrison  church,  we  saw  the  metal  sar- 
cophagi of  Frederick  the  Great,  and  his  father, 
William  I.,  who  are  interred  above  ground,  under 
the  pulpit.  The  church  is  surrounded  with  tablets, 
bearing  the  names  of  the  brave  men  who  suffered 
in  the  war  of  Liberation.  We  went  over  the  town 
palace  to  see  the  relics  of  Frederick  the  Great,  for 
it  stands  almost  as  it  did  in  his  days ;  the  furniture 
is  stained  by  the  plates  that  were  put  for  his  dogs, 
and  every  cushion  is  almost  entirely  torn  to  pieces 
by  the  claws  of  these  animals.  A  small  room  is 
provided  with  a  table,  which  ascends  and  descends 
through  a  trap-door  in  the  floor.  When  he  wished 
to  be  retired,  the  plates  and  dishes  were  removed 

*  Rading,  an  intelligent  young  man,  who  speaks  English, 
and  is  very  attentive.  He  may  be  enquired  for  at  any  of  the 
hotels. 


336 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


by  another  trap-door :  here  he  would  dine  with  a 
friend,  frequently  Voltaire,  without  being  observed, 
or  heard,  or  attended.  We  proceeded  then  to  the 
marble  palace,  Charlottenhotf,  where  my  husband 
met  the  King,  and  I  had  the  spots  pointed  out 
where  the  scenes  of  interest  transpired.  On  our 
way  to  the  New  Palace  there  is  a  house,  built  after 
the  perfect  model  of  one  discovered  at  Pompeii 
while  the  King  was  there — very  lovely.  The  New 
Palace  is  most  splendid ;  it  was  erected  by  Frede- 
rick, by  way  of  bravado,  at  the  end  of  the  seven 
years'  war,  to  show  his  enemies  that  his  finances 
were  not  exhausted.  One  room  is  entirely  lined 
with  minerals  and  shells,  but  not  with  great  taste. 
Going  into  the  small  library,  we  saw  a  copy  of  the 
philosophical  works  of  Frederick  ;  it  contains  many 
notes  in  the  handwriting  of  Voltaire.  The  Russian 
colony  is  pretty,  from  its  buildings  and  Greek 
church.  Next  came  '  Sans  Souci,'  a  fairy  land, 
abounding  with  statues,  and  the  choicest  plants  and 
trees ;  the  vines  were  loaded  with  fruit,  and  sus- 
pended in  festoons.  The  graves  of  Frederick  the 
Great's  dogs  and  favorite  horse,  with  which  he  de- 
sired by  will  to  be  buried,  but  was  not,  are  here. 
One  fountain  only  was  playing,  at  the  foot  of  the 
repeated  terraces  120  feet  high,  exquisitely  beauti- 
i'ul ;  it  was  the  finest  of  all.  We  then  hastened 
through  the  grove,  amid  statues  unnumbered,  to 
our  carriage,  and  at  a  quarter  past  nine  were  in  our 
hotel. 

2Q)th. — "After  taking  leave  of  the  Countess 
Scheffer,  and  some  kind  friends,  we  left  Berlin  for 
Magdeburg,  at  five  in  the  afternoon,  by  the  railway. 
At  the  station  we  met  an  histoiical  painter,  whom 
the  King  had  introduced  to  my  husband  as  a  great 
genius;  he  accompanied  us  many  miles  on  our  jour- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


337 


ney,  and  was  extremely  polite  and  agreeable.  We 
reached  Magdeburg  at  a  quarter  to  ten,  and  in  the 
morning,  visited  the  Cathedral  erected  between 
1211  and  1363  ;  one  of  the  noblest  Gothic  edifices 
in  northern  Germany.  There  are  the  tombs  of  the 
Emperor  Otho,  and  his  Queen  Editha,  daughter  of 
Edmund,  King  of  the  Anglo  Saxons  in  the  tenth 
century — a  monument  also  of  Archbishop  Ernest, 
1497,  in  bronze,  and  a  beautiful  alabaster  pulpit, 
but  much  injured  by  Napoleon's  soldiers,  when  he 
made  the  Cathedral  a  stable  for  his  horses.  Peter 
Vischer's  monument  of  Archbishop  Ernest,  exe- 
cuted in  bronze,  is  a  w^ork  of  great  merit ;  the 
figures  of  the  twelve  apostles  around  it,  are  worthy 
of  the  closest  examination,  and  that  also  of  the 
Frau  von  Asseburg,  a  lady  who  returned  home  the 
night  after  her  burial,  and  lived  nine  years  with  her 
husband,  after  this  interment.  Against  the  walls 
are  the  names  of  the  men  of  Magdeburg,  who  fell 
in  the  war  of  Liberation.  Luther  went  to  school 
here,  and  afterwards  sang  in  the  streets  at  rich 
men's  doors,  as  poor  choristers  still  do,  to  earn  a 
scanty  pittance  for  his  support.  Here  is  an  immense 
fortification.  The  awful  butchery  by  Tilly,  after 
seven  months'  siege  in  1631,  makes  one  groan  for 
the  depravity  of  human  nature,  and  pray  that  our 
dear  land  may  never  be  trodden  by  a  foreign  army. 

21th. — "  Left  Madgeburg  for  Brunswick.  The 
interesting  vaults  at  the  Cathedral  we  saw  before 
seven  in  the  morning ;  they  were  completed  in  1194, 
by  Henry  the  Lion,  after  his  return  from  the  Holy 
Land.  He  was  one  of  the  most  illustrious  princes 
of  the  house  of  Guelph,  and  from  him  our  royal 
family  descends.  Here  are  his  tomb,  and  that  of 
Matilda  his  princess,  daughter  of  Henry  II.,  and 
sister  of  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion  :  the  ducal  family 
29 


338 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


are  buried  in  the  vaults  beneath.  There  lie  the 
Duke  and  his  son — the  former  fell  at  Jena  and  the 
latter  at  Waterloo — both  surrounded  with  withered 
garlands  brought  by  their  attached  countrymen, 
and  two  black  flags  presented  by  the  matrons  and 
maidens  of  Brunswick,  wave  over  them.  Between 
these  two  coffins  lies  Caroline  of  Brunswick,  con- 
sort of  George  IV. ;  she  dictated  the  inscription  on 
the  original  silver  plate,  '  Murdered  Queen  of  Eng- 
land ;'  but  it  was  exchanged  for  another,  having 
only  names,  dates  and  titles.  We  were  surrounded 
with  the  royal  dead,  the  gloomy  place  was  illumi- 
nated with  wax  candles,  and  was  a  humiliating 
scene.  Coffins  of  all  sizes,  containing  the  great  of 
this  world,  now  food  for  worms !  At  eight  we 
started  for  Hanover,  arrived  at  ten,  and  saw  the 
royal  stud — about  three  hundred  lovely  creatures. 
We  walked  in  the  park  of  the  King  of  Hanover, 
and  saw  the  exterior  of  his  palace,  and  the  house 
of  Prince  George,  his  son :  they  were  not  so  grand 
as  that  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  in  England, 
and  did  not  look  like  the  residence  of  English 
royalty.  The  pillar  erected  to  the  memory  of 
those  who  fell  at  Waterloo,  with  their  names,  is  a 
fine  structure.    At  the  table  d'hote,  met  Count  de 

L  ,  who  married  the  niece  of  the  Marquis  of 

L  ;  he  showed  us  great  attention,  went  to  the 

railroad  with  us,  and  watched  our  departure.  We 
arrived  at  Zelle  at  six,  and  slept  there.  We 
reached  Haarburg  at  half  past  nine  the  next  morn- 
ing, whence  we  proceeded  by  steamer  to  Hamburg, 
to  the  Victoria  Hotel. 

"  On  Sunday,  we  drove  by  mistake  to  the  Me- 
thodist Association,  held  in  a  small  room,  where 
we  had  an  excellent  sermon  from  a  Mr.  Walker ; 
after  service,  we  returned  a  hymn-book  to  one  who 


MKMUIK   OF   MHS.  SHERMAN. 


339 


had  kindly  lent  it,  and  who  proved  to  be  the  cap- 
tain of  the  vessel  by  which  we  were  to  sail,  the 
'  Countess  of  Lonsdale.'  He  directed  us  to  the  In- 
dependent Chapel,  known  as  the  '  English  Reform- 
ed Church.'  In  the  evening  we  went  there,  and 
heard  Mr.  Smith,  a  former  student  at  Rotherham, 
preach  an  excellent  sermon.  In  conversation  with 
him  and  the  two  deacons,  we  first  heard  that  our 
visit  to  Griifenberg  had  been  blest  to  our  kind 
friend  Mrs.  K  .  With  new  feelings  we  antici- 
pated our  visit  to  her  on  the  next  day,  and  I  could 
not  help  counting  the  hours  till  I  should  meet  this 

dear  addition  to  the  happy  family.    Mr.  K  

fetched  us  in  his  carriage.  The  views  from  the 
elevated  ground  on  the  road  of  the  Elbe,  are  splen- 
did. At  a  certain  point  we  left  the  carriage,  and 
walked  through  a  succession  of  grounds  overlook- 
ing the  river,  to  Mr.  K  's  house ;  at  about  a 

quarter  of  a  mile  from  it,  Mrs.  K          met  us. 

My  heart  did,  indeed,  glow  to  see  her ;  many  for- 
mer conversations  made  her  an  object  of  interest, 
but  the  crowning  one  was  the  change  in  her  cha- 
racter. A  little  conversation  elicited  the  fact ;  but 
the  more  we  talked,  the  firmer  became  my  convic- 
tion that  the  new  nature  was  wrought  in  her  by 
the  Spirit  of  God  ;  the  time  spent  beneath  her  roof 
was  one  of  unspeakable  delight  to  me.  At  half  past 
eight  we  went  on  board  the  '  Countess  of  Lons- 
dale' steamer.  I  arose  early,  and  went  into  the 
saloon,  and  spent  nearly  an  hour  alone — but  not 
alone !  At  breakfast,  we  first  ascertained  what 
companions  we  had  for  our  long  voyage.  Among 
them  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Oucken,  who  had 
lieen  recently  persecuted  in  Denmark,  for  circu- 
lating the  Scriptures  and  preaching  the  gospel :  also 
a  lady  who  was  going  over  to  be  married  to  him, 


340 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


a  clergyman  and  his  wife — not  our  sort,  Mr.  L  , 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  H  ,  taken  in  at  Cuxhaven,  a  son 

of  Rev.  F.  N  ,  an  elegant  young  man,  and  his 

friend,  with  several  others ;  but  only  five  ladies :  so 
much  the  better  for  our  snug  cabin.  While  passing 
out  from  the  mouth  of  the  Elbe,  where  there  had 
been  a  slight  squall  twenty-four  hours  previously, 
the  vessel  rolled,  and  made  us  all  ill.  I  ivent  to 
bed,  finding  the  other  ladies  had  preceded  me,  and 
slept  soundly. 

"  To-day,  September  3rd,  I  am  full  of  hope  in 
the  prospect  of  soon  reaching  dear  Old  England — 
there  may  I  testify  my  love  to  Him,  who  has 
granted  to  us  mercies  so  unnumbered,  by  an  entire, 
renewed  consecration  of  my  all  to  His  glory." 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


341 


CHAPTER  XII. 

VISIT  TO  ST.  Leonard's  and  Hastings. 

The  Continental  tour  and  the  visit  to  Silesia,  re- 
corded in  the  preceding  chapter,  greatly  improved 
Mrs.  Sherman's  general  health,  which  for  some  time 
after  her  return  was  sustained,  to  the  astonishment 
and  comfort  of  her  friends.  Hope,  naturally  buoyant 
in  her  cheerful  temper,  became  lively  and  vigorous. 
Her  recovery,  before  encompassed  with  uncertainty, 
she  now  anticipated  with  confidence,  and  told 
her  husband,  in  cheerful  accents,  that  as  she  felt 
better  than  for  months  previously,  she  was  assured 
the  Lord  would  again  permit  her  to  labor  in  his 
vineyard.  Her  cough,  however,  had  never  been 
effectually  subdued,  and  as  the  winter  advanced  be- 
gan to  show  fearful  symptoms  of  increased  violence. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1847  the  strength 
previously  gained  declined,  and  the  appetite,  which 
had  been  remarkably  renewed,  rapidly  failed. 
Though  the  Parsonage  is  situated  very  favorably 
for  a  consumptive  patient,  being  protected  entirely 
from  the  north  and  east,  it  was  thought  by  her 
physician  that  the  atmosphere  of  London  aggra- 
vated her  disease ;  therefore,  as  a  change  for  the 
invalid,  rather  than  with  any  expectation  of  perma- 
nent amendment,  he  ordered  her  for  a  few  weeks  to 
her  father's  residence  at  Enfield,  where  every 
attention  that  love  could  invent  was  paid  to  the 
precious  saint.  Here,  spasmodic  attacks  of  cough- 
ing, which  were  enough  to  excite  sympathy  for  the 
29* 


342 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


patient,  cheerful  sufferer,  in  the  coldest  heart,  pro- 
duced dreadful  exhaustion  and  brought  her  very 
low.  Yet  she  rallied  again  and  again,  and  it  ap- 
peared for  a  few  days  as  if  the  symptoms  had  taken 
a  favorable  turn,  and  that,  notwithstanding  all  she 
had  suffered,  she  might  hereafter  again  "  work  the 
work  of  the  Lord."  She  was  not  wholly  deprived 
of  attending  worship  on  the  Sabbath — occasionally 
in  the  morning  or  afternoon  she  ventured  among 
the  assembled  saints,  and  ate  with  a  keener  spiritual 
relish  the  bread  that  came  down  from  heaven.  But 
even  a  short  service  was  more  than  her  enfeebled 
strength  could  sustain,  without  increased  suffering; 
and  often  has  her  determination  to  go  "  where  God 
dwells,"  cost  her  the  sacrifice  of  a  night's  rest  and 
much  bodily  comfort ;  still,  what  relative  could 
authoritatively  interpose  or  resist  the  touching  re- 
monstrance, "Let  me  go — I  may  not  worship 
with  you  long  on  earth,  and  if  I  do  sufler  a  little 
more  in  my  body,  my  spirit  is  refreshed  with  the 
dews  which  fall  on  Zion's  hill — O,  it  is  good  to  be 
there !" 

Rather  than  attempt  to  describe  the  state  of  her 
mind,  and  its  gracious  employment,  it  will  be  pre- 
ferable to  show  both  in  some  portions  of  letters 
which  she  wrote  at  this  period.  These  will  prove 
how  near  the  verge  of  heaven  her  spirit  lived,  from 
whence  she  derived  her  solid  peace,  and  how  intent 
she  was  on  serving  her  incarnate  Lord  through  the 
remaining  days  of  her  suffering  existence.  That 
she  might  not  appear  to  be  wholly  separated  from 
her  Sabbath  class,  a  lady  who  had  occasionally 
assisted  her,  when  necessitated  to  leave  home, 
kindly  undertook  to  superintend  it  on  her  behalf ; 
but  sickness  in  her  friend's  family  compelled  her 
absence  from  London  for  a  season,  and  finally  from 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


343 


the  neighborhood  of  Surrey  Chapel.  Just  at  this 
time,  and  when  she  felt  her  resumption  of  its 
duties  was  hopeless,  the  kindness  of  her  Heavenly 
Father  appeared  in  sending  to  her  Miss  Neele,  a 
valued  friend,  with  whom  she  had  been  on  terms  of 
intimacy  from  childhood,  to  take  charge  of  the 
education  of  her  two  daughters.  She  entered  the 
family  a  few  weeks  before  Mrs.  Sherman's  tour  to 
Silesia,  and  when  she  returned,  undertook  to  in- 
struct the  class  for  a  few  Sabbaths ;  but  her  labors 
proving  very  acceptable  to  the  pupils,  at  the  re- 
quest of  Mrs.  Sherman,  seconded  by  the  class,  she 
consented  to  become  its  permanent  instructress. 
Her  Sunday  class  being  thus  happily  provided  for, 
a  great  burthen  was  at  once  removed  from  her 
mind,  while  by  their  teacher's  residence  with  her 
she  was  still  able  to  maintain  communication  with 
them. 

Although  her  young  ladies'  class  required  an 
effort  only  once  a  fortnight,  her  failing  strength 
would  not  permit  her  longer  to  indulge  the  pleasing 
expectation  that  she  might  resume  its  duties — and 
it  became  her  anxiety  and  prayer,  that  some  effi- 
cient and  cultivated  teacher  might  be  found  for  that 
also.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1847,  Mrs. 
Field,  a  lady  well-qualified  for  the  undertaking, 
cheered  her  heart,  by  signifying  to  the  exhausted 
invalid  her  acceptance  of  the  office.  Her  joy  at 
this  announcement  will  be  best  told  in  her  own 
language : — 

"January  9th,  1847. 
"Many  are  the  instances  in  which  your  kind- 
ness, my  beloved  friend,  has  revived  my  heart ; 
but  as  '  a  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed,'  you 
have  specially  cheered  my  mind,  by  its  unexpected 


344 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


relief  from  the  burthen  of  ray  beloved  Bible  class. 
Long  have  I  desired  and  coveted  your  valuable  aid, 
but  your  own  delicacy  of  health  made  me  shrhik 
from  suggesting  any  plan  that  would  make  de- 
mands on  your  strength  ;  but  your  dear,  kind  heart 
has  anticipated  my  wishes,  and  I  tender  you  the 
overflowings  of  mine  in  gratitude  and  love.  My 
dear  husband  fully  intended  to  take  charge  of  the 
class  when  this  year  opened  ;  but  the  state  of  his 
chest,  and  of  his  general  health  for  some  weeks, 
made  me  think  it  quite  improper,  and  even  perilous, 
to  attempt  any  additional  exercise.  My  grief  over 
that  dear  class,  so  much  needing  assistance,  and 
the  hope  of  resuming  my  place  among  them  being 
so  continually  disappointed  by  the  recurrence  of  old 
evil  symptoms,  whenever  I  encounter  the  slightest 
exertion  and  excitement,  have  perhaps  aggravated 
the  trial  of  banishment  from  my  loved  place  among 
them.  I  wish  you,  my  dear  friend,  the  same  rich 
enjoyment  I  have  experienced  in  meeting  them — 
for  though  physically  there  was  rather  suffering 
than  enjoyment,  ray  nobler  part  has  been  often  re- 
freshed in  the  feeble,  broken  effort  to  draw  them 
near  to  God.  I  have  struggled  long  with  my 
consciousness  of  utter  inefficiency  for  so  responsible 
a  position  ;  now  ray  Heavenly  Father  is  trying  and 
proving  rae,  whether  I  would  serve  Hira  or  not. 
Ah,  ray  beloved  friend,  none  but  One  can  sympa- 
thize with  ray  feelings,  in  being  thus,  step  by  step, 
reraoved  frora  the  scenes  of  rich  privilege,  in  which 
ray  whole  soul  has  long  luxuriated,  and  enjoyed 
such  rich  raanifestations  of  ray  Father's  condescen- 
sion and  love.  Why  was  I  perraitted  to  taste  the 
dear  cup  of  hallowed  joy,  so  utterly  unworthy  as  I 
am  of  the  least  notice  of  my  Father's  eye?  Why 
was  the  cup  taken  from  me,  just  as  I  was  increas- 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.  SHERMAN. 


345 


ingly  realizing  the  happiness  of  being  nothing — less 
than  nothing,  that  God  might  be  '  all  in  all.'  It 
sometimes  seems  as  if  it  was  a  stroke  of  His  wrath, 
and  while  I  am  overwhelmed  that  His  mercy  ever 
reached  my  guilty  soul  at  all,  I  catch  myself  con- 
tinually asking,  '  Wherefore  dost  thou  contend  with 
me  ?'  He  has  brought  me  so  to  love  Him,  that  I 
am  ready,  I  think,  to  feel  '  He  doth  all  things 
well ;'  and  if  He  leave  me  without  usefulness  or  in- 
fluence all  my  remaining  days,  it  must  be  for  some 
infinitely  wise  purpose,  though  hidden  from  me, 
and  contrary  to  His  ordinary  method :  for  He 
surely  must  be  more  glorified  by  the  increase  of  my 
influence,  if  He  sanctify  its  exercise,  than  by  its 
removal.  I  am  willing — more  than  willing  to  be 
entirely  at  His  disposal,  to  be  nothing  in  the  esteem 
of  others,  if  He  be  but  glorified.  But  is  it  not 
mysterious,  that  in  the  flower  of  my  days,  and  just 
arriving  at  the  age  when,  if  ever,  some  degree  of 
wisdom  may  be  anticipated,  and  delighting  in  every 
thing  in  proportion  to  my  ability  to  communicate 
my  enjoyment  to  others,  I  am  thus  suddenly  ar- 
rested in  my  course  ?  My  weakness  last  winter 
prevented  all  such  gloomy  musings ;  but  the  great 
improvement  in  my  general  health,  since  my  jour- 
ney, seemed  to  encourage  every  hope  that  I  might 
again  do  as  in  former  happy  days,  but  every  at- 
tempt proves  my  mistake,  and  sends  me  back  to 
my  closet,  to  ask  that  resignation  which  surely  I 
must  want,  or  I  could  not  feel  so  discouraged. 
Forgive  me  for  thus  pouring  out  my  heart's  grief 
<o  you.  I  know  you  will  pray  for  your  unworthy 
friend,  as  well  as  so  substantially  help  her." 

One  of  the  m  mbers  of  the  church  had  been 
most  unjustly  subjected  to  a  criminal  prosecution, 
in  consequence  of  the  person  to  whom  his  kind  of- 


346 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


fices  were  gratuitously  rendered,  unexpectedly  dy- 
ing. Weak  as  she  was,  she  would  send  the  fol- 
lowing testimony  of  her  sympathy  to  his  wife  : — 

"  Clay  Hill,  Enfield,  February  1st,  1847. 
"  1  fear  you  are  in  anxiety,  and  I  must  send  my 
paper   representative  to  assure  you,  dear  Mrs. 

L  ,  how  truly  and  heartily  I  sympathize  with 

you  and  your  good  husband,  under  this  unexpected 
trial ;  for  though  human  sympathy  can  of  itself  do 
little,  it  is  sometimes  cheering  to  know,  that  every 
Christian  sympathizer  contributes  his  or  her  mite, 
to  '  open  the  windows  of  heaven,'  that  '  a  blessing 
may  be  poured  out ;'  and  you  have  many  such  sym- 
pathizers at  Surrey.  When  God  is  about  to  answer 
a  prayer,  which  has  long  appeared  to  be  unheeded. 
He  often  seems  to  be  sending  only  judgments  and 
WTath,  raising  enemies  in  return  for  kindness,  and 
crossing  our  best  and  most  hallowed  purposes.  We 
are  so  slow  to  comprehend  our  Father's  methods 
of  disciplining  his  children,  and  so  unwilling  to 
work  with  Him  in  accomplishing  His  designs,  that 
we  are  sometimes  ready  in  our  hearts,  if  not  with 
our  lips  to  join  with  Jacob,  in  saying,  '  All  these 
things  are  against  me.'  But,  my  dear  friend,  this 
present  trial,  is  not  more  mysterious  than  Jacob's ; 
all  was  overruled  in  his  case  for  good,  and  I  am 
perfectly  confident  that  God's  design  in  your  case, 
is  for  your  advantage.  How  many  have  been  led 
to  pray  for  you,  who  but  feebly  remembered  you 
before!  Has  it  not  led  both  you  and  your  husband 
to  cast  yourselves  more  simply  on  Him,  who  has  all 
hearts  in  His  hands?  Has  not  the  unchangeable 
faithfulness  of  God  been  endeared  in  contrast  with 
the  malice  of  man  ?  The  consciousness  of  integrity 
in  your  husband's  mind  must  be  very  consoling ;  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


347 


conviction  that,  however  hateful  the  circumstances 
of  this  trial  are  to  the  Divine  mind,  yet  that  while 
His  love  permits  them,  he  has  entire  authority  over 
them,  so  that  they  cannot  do  more  than  He  allows 
— is  the  sweetener  of  the  most  bitter  sorrow.  '  Look 
not,'  my  dear  friend,  'at  the  things  which  are 
seen'  and  '  temporal,'  but  '  at  the  things  which  are 
unseen  and  eternal,'  so,  '  our  light  affliction  worketh 
for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory.'  Look  through  the  dark  cloud  to  Him  that 
sits  on  His  throne,  who  makes  the  clouds  His 
chariots  of  love  to  draw  you  nearer  to  Himself;  to 
behold  Him  in  His  ways,  till  you  love  Him,  and  all 
His  dealings,  however  painful ;  confident  that, 
'  He  that  spared  not  His  own  Son,'  will  '  freely 
give  us  all  things,'  whether  trial  or  prosperity,  that 
shall  tend  to  our  complete  and  final  redemption. 
He  loves  too  much  to  spare  the  rod  when  needed, 
and  He  strikes  because  He  loves  and  '  careth  for 
you.'  In  His  hands  leave  this  week's  results  ;  He 
will  never  betray  you.  Excuse  this  note,  which 
an  anxious  and  sympathizing  heart  dictates." 

It  was  her  habit  on  the  return  of  her  wedding- 
day,  to  review  the  providences  which  had  attended 
her  useful  course.  A  note  bearing  date  March  3rd, 
1847,  alludes  to  this  event,  and  exhibits  how  well 
her  mind  was  disciplined  to  endure,  and  even  wel- 
come her  altered  condition,  which  contrasted  so 
painfully  with  that  of  former  years. 

"  If  you  are  in  London,  my  dear  friend,  do  try 
to  come  and  cheer  me  with  your  presence,  at  the 
Maternal  Meeting  here  on  Monday  ;  it  always  de- 
lights me  to  see  you,  but  especially,  when  I  feel 
unequal  to  exertion,  and  must  fall  back  upon  my 
kind  friends.  Several  fresh  members  have  joined 
us  lately,  and  I  am  anxious  to  secure  the  assistance 


348 


THE  PASTOR  S  'WIFE  ;  OR 


of  those  who  can  speak  to  good  purpose,  which  you 
know  I  think  you  do.  I  am,  indeed,  a  poor  crea- 
ture now,  more  so  than  ever  ;  and  am  called  to  give 
up  to  other  and  far  more  efficient  hands,  the  little 
objects  which  have  so  intensely  interested  me. 
Twelve  years  of  peculiar  happiness  I  have  passed 
this  day,  with  my  beloved  husband  ;  it  is  the  first 
wedding-day  that  has  transpired  without  bright 
hopes  of  increasing  activity  and  usefulness ;  but  I 
am  now  bidden  to  '  Stand  still,'  to  wait,  to  submit, 
and  to  yield  such  hopes  to  others.  I  feel,  however, 
it  is  right,  and  I  do  not  in  my  heart  desire  any 
other  appointment ;  my  flesh  sometimes  does,  but 
though  a  painful  discipline,  it  is  quite  enough  for 
me  that  I  am  in  my  Father's  hands ;  this  silences 
every  rebellious  wish,  and  I  hope  soon  to  recognize 
submission  as  more  congenial,  than  that  activity 
which  I  once  so  much  enjoyed.  I  want  to  know 
no  will  but  His ;  quietly  and  cheerfully  to  sit  in  si- 
lence, and  learn  the  great  lessons  which  He  has 
given,  to  qualify  me  for  the  enjoyment  of  Himself, 
and  to  promote  His  own  glory." 

To  another  of  her  friends  whose  attentions  to  her 
diet  were  never  failing,  she  thus  replies : 

"Again  must  I  thank  you,  my  very  kind  friend, 
for  the  repetition  of  your  alfectionate  remembrance, 
and  for  its  extension  to  my  little  Patty.  I  can  only 
regard  you  as  a  '  ministering'  body  as  well  as 
'  spirit,'  if  I  am  not  presumptuous  in  the  hum- 
ble hope  that  '  through  him  that  loved'  and 
'  washed'  me,  I  am  '  an  heir  of  salvation,'  to  whom 
those  blest  ones  are  sent  to  minister.  He  who  com- 
missions them  is,  indeed,  the  source  of  'every  good 
and  every  perfect  gift.'  I  bless  Him  for  making 
your  heart  the  kind  well  of  mercy  it  is — you  will 
give  Him  all  the  glory :  and  I  bless  you  for  the 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN, 


349 


sweet  overflowings  of  that  heart  to  me,  which  in- 
clines you  in  all  things  to  do  His  will,  and  to  make 
others  happy.  I  disobey  you  by  writing,  but  I 
must  thank  you  while  I  can  hold  a  pen." 

On  the  3rd  of  April,  by  the  advice  of  Dr.  Roots, 
she  left  London  for  St.  Leonard's.  The  little  ex- 
ercise she  was  able  to  take  in  the  open  air,  by  the 
facilities  this  lovely  and  quiet  place  afforded,  and 
the  warrn  breezes  from  the  ocean,  greatly  renovated 
her  strength,  and  reduced  the  violence  of  her  cough 
for  a  few  weeks ;  but  she  had  now  an  exercise  of 
another  and  more  painful  kind.  Her  mind,  which, 
during  the  whole  period  of  her  sickness  had  been 
remarkably  placid,  and  even  joyous,  became  sud- 
denly depressed ;  not  that  it  was  apparent  to  an 
ordinary  observer,  for,  like  her  Savior,  she  seldom 
mentioned  her  mental  sorrows,  except  to  her 
Heavenly  Father.  Her  great  anxiety  for  the  com- 
fort of  others,  would  not  allow  her,  unless  abso- 
lutely necessary,  to  intrude  her  griefs  on  their  at- 
tention ;  even  her  husband  was  not  made  acquaint- 
ed with  them  till  after  repeated  enquiry,  lest  the 
tale  of  sorrow  should  diminish  his  happiness.  The 
dart  which  the  vile  archer,  taking  advantage  of  her 
bodily  weakness,  cast  into  her  tender  conscience, 
was  the  base  insinuation  that  her  backwardness  to 
converse  on  heavenly  and  spiritual  topics  had  been 
a  hindrance  to  her  husband's  usefulness.  Never 
did  he  invent  a  more  false  accusation,  for  it  was 
scarcely  possible  for  a  disciple  to  give  a  heartier 
response  when  the  peculiarities  of  Christian  expe- 
rience were  introduced,  or  to  show  greater  delight 
when  the  tales  of  God's  love  were  the  subjects  of 
conversation.  It  was  not  her  habit  to  thrust  her 
religious  opinions  on  every  company  and  season, 
but  few  opportunities  escaped  without  some  deli- 


350 


THE  PASTORS  WIFE)  OR 


cate  allusion  to  the  best  of  topics,  with  which  her 
heart  was  charged.  Poor  and  rich,  pious  and  pro- 
fane, will  confirm  this  testimony,  and  he  whose 
ministry  her  clouded  imagination  fancied  she  had 
injured,  can  only  lament  that  the  charge  might, 
with  greater  propriety,  be  brought  against  him, 
that  he  had  not  sufficiently  improved  the  precious 
opportunities,  now,  alas  !  past,  of  spiritual  commu- 
munion  with  her  during  thirteen  years  of  almost 
uninterrupted  bliss.  The  description  she  gives  of 
her  state  of  mind  is  so  mournfully  beautiful,  that  it 
cannot  be  withheld. 

"Before  my  marriage,  my  own  impression  of  one 
of  the  most  important  duties  of  a  minister's  witie 
was  this:  that  as  her  husband's  many  and  varied 
occupations,  being  all  on  one  subject,  were  neces- 
sarily likely,  in  a  measure,  to  become  mechanical, 
unless  much  time  could  be  devoted  to  communion 
with  God  and  his  own  heart  in  private  ;  her  duty 
would  be,  by  her  piety  and  spirituality  of  conversa- 
tion, to  help  his  piety,  and  to  give  it  the  vigor  re- 
quisite to  its  constant  exhibition  in  its  brightest, 
purest  form  at  home.  Now,  my  beloved  husband 
does  every  where  show  whom  he  serves,  but  that 
quiet  influence  which  the  wife  should  exert  for 
him — not,  believe  me,  by  attempting  to  dictate  or 
teach,  quite  the  reverse — I  have  sought,  longed  for, 
prayed  for,  for  twelve  years,  but  have  never  yet 
attained.  And  I  feel  powerfully  as  if  I  had  been 
your  hindrance,  by  my  neglect  of  spiritual  conver- 
sation ;  that  it  is  one  of  my  wasted  opportunities, 
and  that  I  am  to  be  taken  away  as  an  utterly  use- 
less being.  For  many  weeks  my  heart  has  been 
deeply  oppressed,  and  it  is  ray  relief  to  shed  many 
tears.  My  Christian  course  has  been  a  singularly 
happy  one :  my  first  sight  of  the  atonement,  and 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


351 


the  work  of  Christ  has  never  lost  its  clearness,  and 
my  mind  seems  incapable  of  long  depression,  as  to 
my  personal  interest  in  Christ,  from  that  my  refuge 
never  being  concealed.  This  is,  probably,  partly 
from  my  natural  hopefulness  of  disposition.  For 
many  long  weeks,  I  have  lost  much  of  my  relish 
for  my  Bible,  and  but  for  the  influence  of  habit 
and  conscience,  should  sometimes  neither  open  it, 
nor  repeat  any  portion  of  it  to  myself,  for  a  whole 
day.  I  have  no  enjoyment  of  the  presence  of  God, 
and  literally,  I  have  gone  from  room  to  room  here, 
almost  unconsciously,  trying  whether  my  absent 
Lord  would  meet  me  any  where ;  nothing  affords 
me  any  pleasure ;  '  they  have  taken  away  my 
Lord,'  and  I  can  find  no  joy  without  Him.  I  do 
not  feel  my  hope  in  Christ  shaken ;  this  is  the  bit- 
terness of  my  sorrow,  that  I  hope  (unworthy  as  I 
am,)  He  has  bought  me  with  His  own  most  pre- 
cious blood,  and,  therefore,  the  ingratitude  of 
neglecting  His  will  is  so  base.  He  delights  in  the 
happiness  of  the  meanest  of  his  creatures,  and  hides 
not  his  face  but  in  faithfulness  and  love,  and  that 
such  a  Father  should  have  such  a  child,  is  a  sorrow 
indeed.  It  amazes  me,  that  I  do  not  entirely 
doubt  my  adoption ;  it  is  so  unlike  the  spirit  of  a 
child  in  His  family,  to  suspect  I  grieve  Him,  and 
yet  spare  any  pains  till  the  cause  is  removed.  He 
has  warned  me  by  sickness,  which  loosens  many  a 
tongue,  but  still,  to  ray  most  beloved  husband,  I 
am  dumb.  Never  have  I  known  an  habitually 
heavy  heart  till  this  winter,  and  now  there  seems 
a  shade  over  every  thing.  It  is  not  enough  to 
hope  I  am  Christ's,  if  I  do  not  glorify  him ;  and 
insensibility  alone,  such  as  mine,  must  be  most  of- 
fensive to  Him  who  loves  me,  and  takes  such  pains 
to  teach  me,  and  to  draw  me  nearer  to  himself. 


352 


THE  PASTORS  WIFE;  OR 


Pray,  O  pray,  for  your  poor  wife ;  it  is  one  com- 
fort that  I  may  pray  for  you,  and  when  unable  to 
feel  any  other  prayer,  I  do  pray  with  my  whole 
heart  for  you.  Forgive  me  for  sending  you  this 
long  letter  about  myself,  b'.it  it  is  such  a  relief  to 
feel  I  have  told  you  my  burden.  I  can  sometimes 
roll  it  on  Him  who  cares  for  me,  but  the  recollec- 
tion of  unforsaken  sin  renews  it.  Receive  a  full 
heart  of  love  from  your  devoted  wife." 

Though  this  dark  cloud  continued,  with  some 
luminous  apertures,  for  about  six  months,  the  same 
cheerful  tone  of  conversation,  the  same  efforts  to 
help  others  out  of  their  troubles,  the  same  anxiety 
to  save  souls,  as  she  manifested  in  her  more  joyous 
days,  pervaded  her  conduct,  which  her  letters  of 
this  period,  as  well  as  the  testimony  of  her  friend 
and  companion,  abundantly  prove.  The  following 
note  to  her  father  shows  that,  however  dark  the 
valley  through  which  she  was  walking,  she  obeyed 
the  advice  of  the  prophet,  to  stay  herself  upon 
her  God,  and  encouraged  him  to  the  same  blessed 
exercise. 

"  I  am  but  a  poor  thing  at  present,  and  till  the 
night  perspirations  cease,  I  cannot  get  very  robust. 
Quiet,  which  is  so  very  necessary  for  me,  is  per- 
fectly attainable  here,  and  every  thing  is  so  pecu- 
liarly comfortable,  that  I  stand  every  chance  of 
getting  better,  as  far  as  means  and  comforts  avail. 
But  One  only  can  heal,  and  till  He  says  the  word, 
your  Patty  must  cheerfully  yield  to  the  little  incon- 
veniences of  weakness.  She  can  only  marvel  at 
'  the  goodness  and  mercy'  which  surround  her,  and 
which  gave  to  her  the  kindest  and  most  indulgent 
of  all  husbands.  How  happy  shall  we  be,  if  you 
and  I,  with  the  loosening  of  our  little  ties  to  earthly 
comforts,  get  more  closely  united  to  those  pure  and 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


853 


tangible  joys,  which  can  never  be  grasped  too 
firmly.  The  more  we  look,  with  the  simplicity  and 
confidence  of  children,  to  the  riches  which  are  trea- 
sured up  in  Christ,  as  our  Father's  portion,  pro- 
vided for  us  in  the  unfathoma"ble  depths  of  His  love 
and  grace,  surely,  the  more  shall  we  love  Him  and 
his  holiness.  We  must  '  behold  His  glory,  till  we 
are  changed  into  the  same  image  from  glory  to 
glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  :'  and  is  not 
that  look,  the  look  of  simple  faith, — trusting  our 
all,  in  a  faithful,  loving  Father's  hand ;  receiving 
every  promise  in  Christ,  as  '  Yea  and  amen,'  in 
Him?  Oh,  for  more  simplicity  of  faith,  dear 
Daddy  !" 

Mr.  Orne,  a  City  Missionary  in  the  Surrey  Chapel 
district,  who  had  shown  much  diligence  and  devo- 
tedness  in  his  visitation  of  the  poor,  lost  his  wife, 


riod  occasioned  great  fatigue,  she  willingly  made 
the  sacrifice,  to  comfort  the  widower's  heart,  and 
sent  him  the  following  sympathizing  letter : — 


"  I  cannot  hear  of  the  deep  affliction  with  which 
our  Heavenly  Father  has  visited  you,  my  dear  sir, 
without  writing  one  line,  though  in  much  weak- 
ness, to  express  my  very  deep  and  sincere  sympathy 
with  you  in  the  loss  of  your  beloved  companion, 
especially  when  her  maternal  care  was  most  needed. 
I  would  not,  however,  for  a  moment  refer  to  the 
many  dark  views  of  this  mysterious  dispensation, 
but  rather  help  to  cheer  you  by  the  same  means 
with  which  you  have  so  often  cheered  many  droop- 
ing, widowed  hearts ;  and  He  who  has  witnessed 
your  efforts  with  others,  fails  not,  I  am  sure,  to 
comfort  you  now.    Think  not,  my  dear  sir,  of  your 


after  a  short  illness.  Though 


"  St.  Leonard's,  April  26fA. 


30* 


354 


THK  pastor's  wife;  or 


own  loss,  but  of  the  'joy  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory'  which  that  emancipated  spirit  now  enjoys, 
'  without  spot,'  '  with  Christ,'  '  like  Him,'  and  no 
longer  capable  of  sin.  I  often  feel  consoled  under 
my  '  light  affliction,'  with  the  confidence  I  have, 
that  could  our  foith  penetrate  our  Father  s  designs 
in  our  bitterest  trials,  we  should  welcome  all,  and 
dread  as  much  the  loss  of  one  of  his  intended 
strokes,  as  we  now  do  their  approach.  If  His  faith- 
ful love  could  accomplish  His  gracious  plans  with- 
out a  pang,  would  He  inflict  it  ?  His  purposes  of 
mercy  are  so  far  beyond  our  finite  minds  to  com- 
prehend that  He  does  not  reveal  them  to  us  but  by 
their  results ;  in  heaven  all  will  be  unfolded,  and 
the  wrench  that  separated  two  hearts  which  helped 
each  other  in  the  labors  and  toils  of  the  missionary's 
self-denying  path,  will  be  then  found  to  have  been  one 
great  proof  of  His  unchanging  love.  We  shall  soon 
forget  the  thorny  path  when  we  reach  our  Father's 
home,  and  see  the  '  Captain  of  our  salvation,'  the 
'  man  of  sorrows,'  whose  deeply  rugged  path 
smoothed  ours,  and  brought  us  to  '  an  mheritance 
incorruptible  and  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not 
away.'  I  doubt  not  your  mission  is  to  be  advanced, 
and  your  usefulness  and  real  happiness  too,  by  this 
blow ;  and  if  God  be  glorified — your  beloved  one 
perfected  in  bliss — your  work  promoted,  and  your 
sanctification  advanced,  is  not  this  worth  suffering 
for  ?  God's  will  must  be  good  and  kind  ;  and  the 
'  God  of  all  comfort'  will  not  leave  you  comfort- 
less. May  He  grant  you  the  richest  consolations 
of  His  Spirit,  and  make  all  grace  to  abound  toward 
you,  and  by  every  loosened  tie  to  earth  draw  you 
nearer  to  heaven,  and  present  you  and  all  your 
family  perfect  in  that  day — not  one  child  missing." 
Persons  anxious  about  their  salvation,  in  whom 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


355 


there  seems  to  be  a  work  already  begun,  often  mul- 
tiply objections  to  embracing  Christ  and  his  work 
at  once,  as  if  an  improvement  would  take  place  ere 
long,  and  thus  render  them  better  able  to  seize  the 


is  guilt  in  this  delay,  which  is  every  day  aggravated, 
and  that,  instead  of  becoming  more  reconciled  to 
God's  plan ;  the  longer  it  is  refused  the  more  they 
are  disinclined,  and  in  a  far  greater  degree  God  is 
dishonored.  This  difficulty  had  been  expressed  to 
her,  in  a  letter  from  a  young  person  to  whom  she 
had  been  useful  in  drawing  her  from  a  state  of 
ignorance  and  neglect  of  her  soul ;  to  which  she 
thus  replies : 


"  Your  former  letter,  my  dear  friend,  would  have 
been  answered  long  since,  but  I  have  been  very  ill, 
and  have  been  forbidden  to  write  ;  I  am  thankful  to 
say,  I  am  much  better  since  I  came  here,  though 
the  symptoms  still  continue.  Night  perspirations 
and  expectoration  of  blood,  both  which  symptoms 
I  had  not  last  winter,  have  much  weakened  me, 
and  the  progress  of  the  disease  is  said  to  be  very 
decided ;  but  as  in  the  kind  Providence  of  God,  I 
am  so  situated  that  I  can  have  every  possible  care 
and  no  exposure  to  cold,  there  is  every  hope  that 
with  so  good  a  constitution  as  I  possess,  I  may  yet 
be  spared  for  some  years ;  though  perhaps  one  se- 
vere cold  would  speedily  cut  the  slender  thread, 
which  binds  the  frail  tabernacle  to  earth.  I  have 
all  my  family,  and  the  youngest  of  three  grand- 
children here,  so  we  are  a  tolerable  party ;  but  I 
am  not  excited  by  them,  they  make  it  cheerful  for 
me.  I  wish,  my  dear  friend,  I  could  spend  the  hcflfr 
between  the  lights  as  formerly,  in  guiding  you  to 


They  forget  that  there 


St.  Leonard's,  May  6th,  1847. 


3o6 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


'  the  Lamb  of  God,  w  hich  taketh  away  the  sin  of 
the  world  ;'  there  I  love  to  look,  and  there  I  find 
a  '  peace  which  passeth  all  understanding,'  but  no 
where  else.  If  I  look  within,  I  hope  I  see  some 
mcreasing  evidence  of  the  Spirit's  work,  but  while 
I  would  rejoice  in  the  smallest  proof  that  I  am  a 
child  of  God,  through  His  work  in  my  heart,  I  can- 
not draw  my  peace  from  that,  but  from  the  com- 
pleteness of  Christ's  work.  He  is  my  Prophet, 
Priest,  and  King  ;  and  therefore  while  He  lives,  and 
my  guilty  soul  clings  to  Him,  I  am  safe ;  but  this 
is  proved  only  by  my  growing  in  meetness  to  dwell 
with  Him.  It  is  very  important  to  keep  clearly 
before  the  mind  what  is  to  be  the  foundation  of  our 
peace ;  '  He  is  our  peace,'  and  there  is  no  other 
ground  for  hope  but  His  work,  by  which  God  is  re- 
<  ()nciled  to  man,  though  we  are  saved,  only  when 
by  faith  we  receive  His  atonement  and  are  recon- 
ciled to  God,  which  is  evidenced  by  our  forsaking 
that  from  which  Christ  died  to  save  us ;  we  cannot 
have  received  Christ's  salvation  if  we  continue  to 
love  sin  ;  there  is  no  meaning  in  Christ's  work, 
apart  from  the  sanctification  which  is  its  necessary 
result.  Sin  separates  us  from  God,  from  His  favor 
here,  and  His  presence  hereafter ;  and  to  restore  us 
to  His  favor,  Christ  bore  our  punishment  and  curse: 
to  sustain  the  justice,  holiness,  and  truth  of  God, 
He  was  obedient  to  the  law  we  had  broken,  and  to 
restore  us  to  His  presence  in  heaven,  He  sent  his 
Spirit  to  renew  and  sanctify  the  mind,  and  make  us 
fit  for,  and  capable  of  enjoying  it.  But  all  these 
blessings  flow  from  Christ's  satisfaction  to  Divine 
justice,  so  that  '  God  is  just  and  the  Justifier  of  the 
sinner  that  believeth  in  Jesus.'  My  dear  friend, 
M^v  I  long  for  you  richly  to  experience  the  two 
distinct  fruits  of  Christ's  work,  our  justification 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


357 


through  his  blood  as  the  foundation  of  our  hope, 
and  the  Spirit's  work  in  us,  as  the  evidence  that  we 
are  building  on  that  only  foundation.  Your  poor 
mind  still  seems  so  confused  and  unsettled,  some- 
times hoping,  sometimes  fearing ;  but  this  ought  not 
to  be.  We  are  either  converted  or  unconverted ; 
and  we  must  not  be  satisfied  in  uncertainty  which 
of  these  is  our  state,  when  heaven  or  hell  is  the  re- 
sult. We  are  exhorted  to  give  all  diligence,  to 
make  our  election  sure ;  to  work  out  our  own  sal- 
vation with  fear  and  trembling,  not  to  merit  salva- 
tion, but  by  the  diligent  use  of  every  means  of 
grace,  watchfulness,  humility,  leaning  on  God,  re- 
sisting sin,  fighting  against  temptation,  and  above 
all  by  prayerful  study  of  our  Guide  Book,  the 
Bible,  to  strive  for  our  salvation,  and  against  every 
thing  that  would  impede  it.  You  must  not  rest  till 
you  are  reconciled  to  God ;  for  His  reconciliation 
to  man  is  of  no  avail,  while  the  sinful  heart  is  prac- 
tically at  enmity  with  Him.  The  riches  of  His 
grace  and  love  are  displayed  in  the  amazing  work 
of  redemption,  which  removes  the  barrier  to  man's 
salvation,  and  how  aggravated  must  that  guilt  be, 
which  resists  and  trifles  with  such  love,  which  can 
linger  and  hesitate  to  seize  its  rich  offers. 

My  heart  grieves  to  look  back,  and  see  how 
long  I  hesitated  ;  desiring  to  be  a  Christian,  but 
forgetting  that  I  was  a  rebel  and  an  enemy  to  God, 
so  long  as  I  was  not  one ;  I  looked  at  my  own 
happiness,  and  therefore  desired  to  be  a  Christian, 
as  the  only  way  of  being  truly  and  eternally  happy ; 
but  I  thought  not  how  I  was  a  miracle  of  His  for- 
bearance while  out  of  hell :  that  I  deserved  hell ; 
that  I  had  chosen  sin,  and  rejected  holiness ;  that  I 
had  no  good  thing  in  me,  and  that  my  utter  destruc- 
tion would  be  jierfectly  just  and  righteous.  God's 


358 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


mercy  offered  me  salvation,  but  I  did  not  think  of 
it  as  such.  It  seemed  a  matter  only  between  my 
happiness  and  me,  quite  independent  of  God's 
honor ;  and  this,  I  fear,  is  much  your  own  state  of 
mind,  which  makes  me  very  intensely  anxious  that 
you  should  pray  much  for  your  eyes  to  be  opened 
by  the  Spirit  of  God.  Such  will  be  the  Christian's 
prayer  all  the  way  to  heaven,  and  how  needful  it 
is  in  first  starting.  Our  eagerness  in  pursuit  of 
any  object  depends  upon  the  value  we  set  on  it, 
and  till  we  know  its  worth,  our  zeal  and  expecta- 
tion of  success  are  not  likely  to  be  great.  Look 
at  wrestling  Jacob,  and  do  likewise,  '  I  will  not 
let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me.'  I  was  much 
interested  in  last  Sunday's  Collect,  '  O,  Almighty 
God,  who  alone  canst  order  the  unruly  wills  and 
affections  of  sinful  men,  grant  unto  thy  people  that 
they  may  love  the  thing  which  thou  commandest, 
and  desire  that  which  thou  dost  promise ;  that  so, 
among  the  sundry  and  manifold  changes  of  the 
world,  our  hearts  may  surely  there  be  fixed,  where 
true  joys  are  to  be  found,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.  Amen.'  Do  mark  it,  and  use  it ;  I  refer 
particularly  to  desiring  what  God  has  promised. 
I  think  God's  promises  are  so  apt  to  be  overlooked 
by  the  seeker,  whereas  we  should  make  ourselves 
familiar  with  them  all,  and  use  them  as  pleas  in 
our  prayers.  Do,  my  dear  friend,  search  your 
Bible,  that  you  may  be  conversant  with  its  sweet 
and  gracious  encouragements.  As  you  read,  copy 
every  promise  you  meet  with,  and  make  one  or 
more  the  subject  of  thought  and  prayer  through 
the  day ;  we  dishonor  God  by  undervaluing  His 
promises,  for  none  could  be  offered  us  but  through 
the  work  and  mediation  of  Christ,  and  every  hope 
and  promise  is  the  purchase  of  His  most  precious 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


359 


blood.  I  long  to  see  you  rejoicing  in  Christ  Jesus, 
and  enjoying  that  '  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all 
understanding,'  because  that  '  shall  keep  your  heart 
and  mind  through  Christ  Jesus.'  God's  '  peace'  is 
not  a  mere  sentiment,  but  an  influential  principle, 
*  keeping  the  heart  and  mind'  from  sin  and  in  holi- 
ness. We  can  judge  whether  the  peace  we  possess 
is  true  or  false,  by  its  influence.  Whatever  comes 
from  God  tends  to  God,  and  that  only  which  sepa- 
rates us  from  sin,  and  conforms  our  will  and  conduct 
to  God,  comes  from  Him. 

"  Oh  !  be  in  earnest,  my  dear  friend ;  you  must 
not  yield  to  this  listlessness  and  inactivity.  I  care- 
fully shun  it  while  suff'ering  pain  and  weakness,  be- 
cause I  consider  it  my  enemy ;  how  much  more 
should  you  determine  against  it,  when  it  is  natural 
to  you,  because  the  least  weakness  or  illness  would 
make  you  a  burden  to  yourself  and  others.  I  wish 
I  could  take  you  out  of  bed  ;  while  you  allow  your- 
self to  sleep,  when  you  should  be  communing  with 
God,  and  laying  in  stores  of  grace  and  knowledge 
1o  meet  the  circumstances  of  the  day,  you  must  not 
expect  to  have  the  evidence  that  you  are  a  child  of 
God ,  for  you  put  away  the  means  of  returning  to 
Him  by  self-indulgence,  and,  must  I  say  it,  idleness ! 
I  speak  honestly,  because  I  feel  deeply  anxious 
about  you,  and  utter  most  earnest  prayer  and  de- 
sires for  your  speedy  decision  for  God.". 

When  some,  to  whom  she  had  been  useful,  felt 
their  hope  of  her  restoration  begin  to  expire,  and 
that  they  were  to  be  permanently  deprived  of  her 
services,  their  grief  was  expressed,  as  she  thought, 
in  too  strong  terms,  which  exhibited  a  want  of  sub- 
mission to  the  Divine  will,  and  reflected  on  the 
love  and  wisdom  of  God.  In  reply  to  one  of 
her  spiritual  children  she  turns   comforter,  and 


360  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

thus  inculcates  acceptance  of  her  Father's  disci- 
pline : 

"Marina,  May  25th,  1847. 
"  I  feel,  my  clear  child,  as  if  I  had  no  right  to 
the  endearing  title  of  teacher  now,  except  from  the 
remembrance  of  past  happy  days.  I  have  learnt 
some  of  my  sweetest  lessons  in  my  beloved  class, 
and  the  last  subjects  we  had  have  peculiarly  com- 
forted my  mind  throughout  my  late  affliction.  How 
delightful  are  the  discoveries  of  the  Divine  charac- 
ter in  the  offices  of  the  triune  God,  and  how  sweet 
to  be  permitted  to  say,  '  This  is  my  Beloved,  and 
this  is  my  Friend.' — 'This  God  is  our  God,  for 
ever  and  ever.'  God's  greatest  promise  to  Abra- 
ham was,  '  I  will  be  a  God  to  thee,  and  to  thy  seed 
after  thee.'  And  this  also  is  the  New  Testament 
promise;  happy  are  we,  my  child,  though  every 
earthly  joy  were  withdrawn.  While  he  is  our  God 
why  mourn  the  loss  of  the  poor  little  murmuring 
stream,  that  once  brought  to  your  feet  some  few 
refreshing  drops  from  the  fountain.  You  have  the 
fountain  itself,  unmixed  with  human  errors  and  in- 
firmities ;  we  ought  to  prize  even  the  dew-drop, 
which  our  Father  so  graciously  sends  to  refresh  and 
help  us  in  our  weary  pilgrimage,  but  we  must  re- 
ceive it  as  a  dew-drop  only,  not  as  the  stream  from 
whence  we  are  to  draw  our  strength  for  the  way. 
Welcome  every  appointment  of  your  loving  Father's 
hand.  If  you  feel  it  a  trial  to  be  without  your  old 
friend,  when  I  have  furnished  you  (or  rather,  God 
has)  with  so  experienced  and  superior  a  substitute, 
what  must  I  feel,  thus  laid  aside  from  all  my  most 
beloved  occupations,  truly,  as  far  as  I  can  see,  '  a 
cumberer  of  the  ground,'  panting  to  employ  my 
little  energy  for  Him  who  loved  me  and  died  for 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


361 


me,  but  suffering  serious  relapse,  directly  I  make 
an  effort.  This  requires  the  full  exercise  of  that 
faith  1  have  recommended  to  others,  to  believe  that 
all  these  things  are  working  together  for  good,  and 
are  God's  method  for  glorifying  himself.  I  know 
He  is  working  while  I  am  still,  and  He  is  crossing 
ray  desires  to  prepare  me  for  that  perfect  rejoicing 
in  His  will,  w'hich  is  found  only  in  heaven,  but 
which  we  must  labor  and  pray  for  here.  I  cannot 
wish  for  any  thing  besides  my  Lord's  will  now,  but 
there  I  shall  fully  rejoice  in  it  all.  Now,  my  child, 
as  you  know  you  will  in  heaven  rejoice  in  this  trial, 
seek  to  discern  the  lovely  character  of  God  more, 
that  you  may  rejoice,  not  in  the  thing  itself,  but  in 
God's  appointments ;  however  dark  they  seem  now, 
it  is  because  we  know  so  little  both  of  God  and 
of  His  designs ;  as  we  grow  in  grace,  we  must 
grow  in  '  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Savior 
Jesus  Christ ;'  and  as  we  advance  in  the  true  know- 
ledge of  Him  every  other  grace  advances,  and  our 
whole  life,  character  and  example,  prove  whose  we 
are,  and  for  whom  we  are  living.  Let  us  keep 
heaven  in  view  as  our  home,  and  then  we  shall 
prize  every  means  our  Father  sends  to  help  us  on 
our  way  thither.  Give  my  most  affectionate  love 
to  my  beloved  friends  in  the  class." 

Mrs.  Sherman  had  sojourned  nearly  two  months 
at  St.  Leonard's,  and  her  active  mind,  amidst  much 
depression  and  w^eakness,  had  found  ample  employ- 
ment. One  of  her  efforts  while  there  may  be 
specially  mentioned.  The  Countess  S.,  of  Weis- 
tricht,  in  Silesia,  begged  her  to  interest  herself  in 
finding  an  English  lady,  who  would  be  a  companion 
to  her,  and  at  the  same  time,  conduct  the  instruc- 
tion of  her  child.  With  an  energy  which  would 
have  honored  a  person  in  health  and  comfort,  she 


362 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


wrote  numerous  letters  to  friends,  to  assist  her  in 
this  selection.  The  distance  from  England,  and  the 
residence  in  a  foreign  land,  though  presenting  many 
advantages,  were  formidable  difficulties,  which, 
after  some  had  accepted  the  situation,  caused  them 
to  alter  their  minds,  and  decline  it.  In  two  cases, 
every  thing  was  arranged  for  the  departure,  but 
relatives  interfered,  and  broke  the  engagement. 
Still  she  pursued  her  task  as  if  she  was  seeking  a 
benefit  to  herself,  and  did  not  cease  till  she  sent  the 
Countess  a  lady,  whose  piety  and  talents  have  jus- 
tified her  hopes  and  efforts. 

As  the  spring  advanced,  a  change  was  again 
thought  desirable,  and  she  removed  to  London  on 
the  4th  of  June,  1847.  There  was  every  reason  to 
fear  that  no  radical  improvement  had  taken  place 
in  her  symptoms ;  the  visit  to  the  sea  had  yielded 
refreshment,  and  the  dark  cloud  upon  her  mind  was 
not  so  dense  as  it  had  been ;  still,  the  disease  was 
progressing  with  slow  but  certain  steps.  She  bore 
the  journey  with  comparative  ease,  and  her  "  own 
dear  home"  was  the  sweeter  for  her  brief  absence. 
Many  hearts  were  gladdened  by  her  return ;  her 
very  presence  at  the  Parsonage  not  only  delighted 
its  inmates,  but  cast  an  air  of  melancholy  pleasure 


though  an  invalid,  was  among  them.  When  her 
cough  permitted  her  to  attend  worship — to  catch  a 
glance  at  her  cheerful  face  as  she  sat  in  the  vestry, 
or  as  she  passed  to  the  house  after  the  service  was 
concluded,  was  considered  by  many,  especially  by 
her  classes,  as  an  additional  Sabbath  joy  ;  and  as 
long  as  she  was  able  to  show  herself  among  them, 
hope  lingered  as  to  her  final  restoration.  Her 
Aveakness  was,  however,  excessive,  and  on  some 
days  occasioned  the  most  pitiable  exhaustion  ;  yet, 


over  the 


for  all  felt  that  a  dear  friend. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


363 


as  soon  as  she  rallied,  some  work  of  mercy  engaged 
her  Christlike  mind. 

A  person  who  acknowledged  Mrs.  Sherman  had 
begotten  her  in  Christ,  by  the  gospel,  and  concern- 
ing whose  spiritual  welfare  she  was  much  inte- 
rested, sent  her  a  letter,  in  which  she  attributed 
unchristian  motives  to  an  excellent  clergyman, 
because  he  thought  it  best  to  enlarge  the  parish 
church,  rather  than  build  a  district  church,  which 
she  and  some  others  of  the  parishioners  preferred. 
She  was  not  only  offended  at  his  conduct,  but 
placed  it  among  the  inconsistencies  of  Christians, 
which  kept  her  and  others  back  from  a  more  public 
decision  for  Christ.  To  that  friend  the  following 
judicious  advice  was  sent : 

"Surrey  Parsonage,  June  29th,  1847. 
"  Your  last  note,  my  dear  friend,  has  given  me 
much  anxiety  on  your  account,  as  the  spirit  of 
complaint  and  judging  which  it  breathes,  is  not 
only  unlovely,  but  appears  to  interfere  with  your 
own  decision  for  God.  How  I  wish  I  could  talk 
with  you  on  the  subject :  it  is  so  difficult  to  ex- 
press my  meaning  on  paper,  especially  in  this  time 
of  weakness ;  but  I  must  try  what  I  can  do,  and 
you  must  have  patience  with  me  while  I  differ  from 
you.  In  the  first  place,  I  think  your  impugning 
your  minister's  intentions  very  wrong,  as  you  can- 
not say  that  you  are  sure  his  motives  are  the  love 
of  money.  I  think,  from  what  I  hear,  the  fear  of 
a  Puseyite  filling  the  pulpit  is  more  correct ;  but 
this  he  must  not  announce,  as  it  necessarily  reflects 
on  that  system  which  involves  such  a  possibility : 
there  is,  at  any  rate,  much  reason  in  his  preference 
of  an  enlargement  of  a  small  church  to  the  erection 
of  a  new  one,  with  the  possibility  of  error,  instead 


364 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


of  the  pure  gospel,  proceeding  from  its  minister. 
But  supposing  that  you  really  have  the  power  to 
discern  the  motives  of  Mr.  C,  and  suppose  he  is 
even  Avorse  than  you  represent  him,  what  has  that 
to  do  with  the  truth  itself?  Suppose  ninety  out 
of  every  hundred  professed  Christians  dishonored 
their  profession,  and  '  went  back  and  walked  no 
more  with'  Jesus,  could  their  iniquity  touch  Him, 
or  weaken  the  stability  of  His  truth  ?  O !  how 
miserable  would  the  Christian's  hope  be,  if  even 
the  whole  world,  combined  with  Satan  and  his 
angels,  could  touch  or  shake  its  deep-laid,  its  eter- 
nal foundation  I  All  are  against  God  by  nature, 
and  if  their  enmity  could  weaken  the  efficacy  of 
Christ's  complete  work  of  redemption,  or  its  blest 
results,  God  would  Himself  (I  speak  with  rever- 
ence,) cease  to  be  God :  if  there  be  a  greater  in 
power.  He  cannot  be  God.  Think  what  is  involved 
in  your  being  discouraged,  because  of  an  unchari- 
table impression  against  another ;  can  you  ever 
have  laid  hold  on  Christ  as  the  only  and  the  all-suf- 
ficient Refuge  of  your  sin-ruined  soul,  if  such  a  puff 
can  blow  your  little  bark  from  its  safe  moorings? 
Something  is  fearfully  wanting,  my  dear  friend,  or 
it  could  not  be :  while  you  are  judging  another's 
motives,  time  is  hastening  you  on  to  that  moment, 
when  the  bark  that  is  not  firmly  cabled  and  an- 
chored on  the  Rock  of  Ages,  shall  be  utterly  de- 
stroyed in  the  storm  of  Divine  wrath,  which  shall 
visit  the  world  of  the  ungodly.  Oh,  my  dear 
friend,  I  weep  while  I  write,  and  fear  it  possible 
that  you  are  yet  without  Christ — this  impression 
of  Mr.  C.'s  conduct  is  a  test  applied  to  your  faith, 
and  can  you  not  bear  so  slight  a  one  ?  How  then 
could  you  bear  the  probable  scoffs  of  the  world, 
when  you  take  up  your  cross  and  come  out  from  it 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.  SHERMAN. 


365 


to  follow  Jesus !  Has  His  love  no  room  in  the 
heart  ?  can  you  question  its  manifestation  with  such 
glorious  proofs  all  around  you?  Remember  our 
Savior's  rebuke  to  Peter's  curiosity — '  What  is  that 
to  thee  ;  follow  thou  me  ;'  and  what  would  he  say, 
when  you  make  a  stumbling  block  for  yourself  out 
of  nothing ;  for  even  if  you  are  correct,  what  can 
it  be  to  you  beyond  Christian  sympathy  for  an 
offender?  You  must  know  in  whom  you  believe, 
and  why  you  believe,  or  you  will  not  only  be  des- 
titute of  all  '  peace  and  joy  in  believing,'  but  bring 
a  far  more  fearful  dishonor  on  your  profession  than 
even  the  poor  accused  one.  Pray,  pray  much  for 
deliverance  from  this  sad  instability,  which  can 
only  injure  and  '  never  excel.'  Read  and  '  search 
the  Scriptures,'  that  your  mind  may  be  more  en- 
lightened '  in  knowledge  and  in  all  love,'  that  you 
may  '  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Savior  in  all 
things.' " 

Country  air  was  soon  found  to  be  necessary,  and 
the  dear  invalid,  at  the  beginning  of  July,  repaired 
to  her  honored  father's  charming  abode  at  Enfield, 
anticipating  that  in  the  autumn  a  continental  tour 
would  aid  her  recovery ;  she  alludes  to  this  design 
in  the  following  extract. 

"I  am  really  very  poorly,  and  so  faint,  that 
every  effort  seems  almost  impracticable,  and  though 
I  do  try  to  rise  above  it,  I  fear  Sunday  evening 
services  must  be  abandoned :  I  am  very  unwilling 
to  believe  they  can  injure,  but  the  oppression  I  feel 
on  my  chest  and  lungs  at  the  time,  and  the  prostra- 
tion of  strength  afterwards,  compel  me  to  acknow- 
ledge I  am  hastening  the  progress  of  disease  by 
attending  them.  My  precious  friend  how  humili- 
ating it  is,  to  find  the  tabernacle  which  must  soon 
be  taken  down,  so  powerful  an  impediment  to  the 
31* 


366 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


progress  of  its  immortal  inhabitant,  is  it  not? 
When  I  can  for  a  moment  look  beyond  '  the  things 
which  are  seen,'  the  beloved  ones  on  earth,  I  long 
to  be  '  with  Christ,'  no  more  dishonoring  and 
grieving  him,  but  bearing  his  perfect  likeness,  and 
serving  him  without  interruption,  or  weakness,  or 
sin.  But  if  assured  that  this  shall  at  last  be  ray 
joy,  how  light  every  disappointment  becomes ;  it 
is  even  my  choice  sometimes,  (I  would  it  were 
always  so,)  because  there  are  great  and  gracious 
purposes  in  the  Divine  mind,  which  by  this  means 
are  to  be  accomplished,  and  any  trial  is  more  wel- 
come than  the  failure  of  one  of  his  designs ;  they 
are  as  his  character — love,  faithfulness  and  truth. 
Even  if  others,  not  myself,  are  to  gain  the  benefit, 
it  amply  repays  for  the  present  trial." 

The  elevated  state  of  peaceful  submission  and 
entire  confidence  in  her  heavenly  Father's  love,  is 
delightfully  exemplified  in  the  sentiments  extracted 
from  a  letter  sent  to  a  dear  young  friend  in  Lan- 
cashire. 

"  Clay  Hill,  July  lOth,  1847. 
"Though  my  correspondence  has  been,  and  is 
likely  to  be,  almost  entirely  prohibited,  I  cannot 
extend  that  prohibition  to  you,  my  dear  friend. 
Delay  you  will  not  interpret  as  indifference,  and 
therefore  when  I  can  venture  to  break  my  rules,  it 
shall  be  on  your  behalf.  I  am  here !  I  sunk  so 
rapidly  in  London,  that  I  was  obliged  to  take 
flight,  though  I  really  believe  the  atmosphere  had 
much  less  to  do  with  it  than  the  circumstances  and 
unavoidable  excitements.  I  rejoice  to  hear  you  are 
better,  and  I  almost  envy  you  the  privileges  now 
so  impracticable  for  me,  of  telling  others  of  a  Sa- 
vior's love.    The  cough  and  its  attendants  invaria- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


367 


bly  increase  with  talking,  and,  consequently,  I  am 
scarcely  allowed  to  see  any  one.  This  I  feel  the  se- 
verest part  of  my  present  trial,  as  it  seems  so  diffi- 
cult to  glorify  God  in  such  perfect  retirement.  He 
sees  and  marks  the  spirit  with  which  I  bear  His 
holy  will,  but  I  cannot  stimulate  others,  either  by 
passive  example,  or  by  testifying  of  His  love,  when 
only  with  my  little  circle  of  home.  They  see  me 
always,  and  what  I  would  tell,  I  have  often  told 
them  before,  so  that  I  think  even  were  my  spirit 
all  it  should  be,  they  would  not  gain  equal  benefit 
with  others,  who  might  only  occasionally  visit  me  ; 
do  not  you  think  this  is  generally  true  ?  But  though 
even  prohibited  from  long  intercourse  with  my  pre- 
cious children,  which  is  a  very  keen  trial,  yet  I 
think  ray  heart  approves  of  it,  because  my  Father 
does  it ;  and  He  has  infinitely  wise  and  loving  pur- 
poses to  accomplish,  which,  if  I  could  see  and  un- 
derstand now,  it  would  make  me  long  for  the  very 
trials  from  which  I  shrink.  It  is  sweet  to  trust  a 
faithful  Father ;  and  that  exercise  of  mind  to  which 
He  calls  us,  when  we  cannot  see  what  He  is  work- 
ing, is  sometimes,  in  the  hands  of  the  Spirit  of 
Love,  the  very  choicest  blessing  to  the  soul.  Every 
fresh  exercise  of  trust  and  confidence  in  Him, 
strengthens  and  prepares  for  yet  stronger  confidence, 
for  greater  joy  in  the  Lord,  for  more  unbroken 
'peace  in  believing;'  and  what  a  boon  this  is!  to 
feel  earthly  and  laudable  sources  of  enjoyment  reced- 
ing from  our  touch,  yet  our  happiness  not  only  un- 
diminished, but  growing  exceedingly  in  degree  and 
in  kind,  by  realizing  how  entirely  independent  it  is 
of  all  created  sources,  how  immediately  from  the 
Fountain — God — and  we  are  so  prone,  after  all,  to 
cling  to  some  earthly  thing,  which,  even  if  a  spirit- 


368  THE  pastor's  wife;  OB 

ual  and  hallowed  thing  in  itself,  yet  becomes  a 
snare,  by  the  tenacity  with  which  we  hold  it,  so 
that  our  Father's  love  often  takes  from  us  even 
this,  lest  a  rival,  though  a  holy  one,  enter  the  heart 
with  Him.  The  fullness  of  His  love  can  never  be 
understood  till  no  rival  is  there — till  He  has  the 
sole  sovereignty,  without  a  thought  of  another ; 
and  to  secure  this  unutterable  joy.  He  sends  trial 
upon  trial,  to  wean  us  from  the  beloved,  but  too 
engrossing  object,  that  we  '  may  be  filled  with  all 
the  fullness  of  God." 

"  How  I  should  love  to  join  you  at  ,  but  I 

am  not  now  well  enough  to  bear  a  journey.  We  in- 
tended to  spend  part  of  July  and  all  August  on  the 
Continent,  but  there  is  no  prospect  of  my  removing 
from  Enfield.  I  am  better,  and  by  keeping  per- 
fectly quiet  1  hope  soon  to  do  comfortably  again ; 
if  not,  I  am  quite  satisfied.  Yes,  through  the 
riches  of  His  grace  we  know  in  whom  \ve  have  be- 
lieved, and  are  persuaded  &,c.,  &c.  Who  are  we 
that  we  should  be  thus  happy,  while  so  many  in 
our  own  circle  are  fearing  to  appropriate  the  great 
salvation?  What  a  debt  we  owe,  and  who  can 
pay  it?  'Eternity's  too  short  to  utter  all  His 
praise.' " 

It  was  customary,  when  any  member  left  her 
class  to  be  a  teacher,  to  take  with  her  the  creden- 
tials of  her  instructress,  and  often  a  letter  of  advice 
and  encouragement.  A  young  person,  who  had  de- 
voted some  of  her  Sabbath  evenings  in  one  of  the 
Ragged  Schools  belonging  to  Surrey  Chapel,  wrote 
to  ask  her  sanction  to  become  a  teacher,  morning 
and  afternoon,  in  another  Sunday-School.  The 
followuig  extract  will  serve  as  a  specimen  of  such 
precious  epistles : 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


369 


"  Clay  Hill,  August  IQith,  1847. 
"I  have  always  pleasure  in  my  dear  young 
friends  leaving  the  class  to  be  teachers,  as  the  pro- 
minent design  of  its  formation  is  to  qualify  young 
persons  for  the  office,  by  cultivating  an  increased 
knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  not  only  in  the  letter 
but  in  the  spirit,  and  by  this  instrumentality,  ac- 
companied with  Divine  influence,  to  form  and  ad- 
vance the  Christian  character,  and  to  fit  them  to  be 
laborers  in  God's  vineyard,  that  they  may  tell  others 
the  way  to  eternal  life,  which  they  have  found 
themselves.  Now,  my  dear  chikl,  you  are  entering 
on  new  and  solemn  responsibilities ;  you  have 
spoken,  probably,  for  the  last  time  to  your  class  at 
Jurston  Street — how  will  you  meet  those  precious 
souls  at  the  last  day  ?  Are  you  clear  of  their  blood  ? 
Have  you  earnestly,  prayerfully,  sought  nothing 
less  than  their  salvation  ?  Follow  up  those  past 
efforts  with  constant  prayer,  and  do  not  allow  your- 
self to  think  you  have  done  with  them.  No  :  there 
is  a  sort  of  sacred  tie  between  the  teacher  and  the 
taught  which  nothing  can  destroy^,  and  which  eter- 
nity will  develope  in  all  its  solemnity.  I  feel  this 
deeply  myself,  and  naturally  wish  you  to  feel  it  too, 
but  more  profitably  than  I  have  done.  You  are 
now  going  to  meet  other  minds,  to  whom  you  have 
the  same  message  to  carry,  that  '  Jesus  Christ  came 
into  the  world  to  save  sinners ;'  think  of  all  the 
points  in  which  you  were  deficient  as  a  teacher  at 
Jurston  Street,  and  direct  your  efforts  to  correct 
them,  and  with  earnest  prayer  and  never-tiring  di- 
ligence, labor  to  be  an  example  to  teachers  and 
scholars,  and  especially  to  your  own  class,  of  emi- 
nent practical  piety ;  let  it  shine,  not  only  on 
the  Sabbath  or  in  religious  exercises,  but  at  ail 


370  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

times,  in  every  look  and  habit,  whether  seen  by 
others  or  not.  The  Christian  character  is  moulded 
more  by  little  than  by  great  things,  and  the  habits 
of  the  Christian  have  much  to  do  with  his  progress, 
either  for  good  or  evil.  Cultivate  habits  of  con- 
stant communion  with  God ;  associate  them  with 
every  thing  you  do ;  this  will  check  sinful  inclina- 
tions, injurious  reading,  and  companions,  as  well  as 
other  evils,  and  render  the  common  things  of  life 
blessings  to  your  soul.  Thus,  your  real  practical 
piety  will  grow,  and  will  render  you  an  efficient 
teacher  of  others.  Let  nothing  tempt  you  to  ne- 
glect preparing  for  your  class  ;  never  offer  to  God 
that  which  costs  you  nothing ;  your  interest  in  your 
work  much  depends  on  this,  and  your  intelligence 
also ;  you  will  feel  increased  interest  in  the  truth 
itself  by  applying  your  mind  prayerfully  to  under- 
stand it.  Ever  strive  to  make  the  way  of  salvation 
clear  to  the  mind  of  every  child ;  Christ,  and  Him 
crucified,  risen,  and  glorified,  is  the  foundation, 
without  which  no  piety  can  be  expected  to  arise. 
He  is  our  hope,  and  every  motive  to  holiness  and 
obedience  flows  from  hence.  '  We  love  Him  be- 
cause He  first  loved  us.'  " 

One  of  the  members  of  her  Sunday  class  was 
called  into  eternity  after  a  brief  illness ;  this  event 
inspired  her  with  new  strength  to  seize  the  favored 
opportunity  to  produce  suitable  impressions  on  the 
minds  of  the  living.  It  seems  written  with  eter- 
nity full  in  view,  and  as  it  was  the  last  document 
which  they  received  from  the  pen  of  their  precious 
teacher,  it  will  be  to  the  members  a  permanent 
testimony  of  her  faithful  love,  and  continued  long- 
ing for  their  salvation,  while  ability  existed  to 
express  it. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


371 


"  Clay  Hill,  August  17th,  1847. 
"My  beloved  Friends, 
"  It  seems  to  me  a  very  long  time  since  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  writing  to  you,  but  it  is  an  occupa- 
tion so  exhausting  to  my  strength,  that  though  I 
would  risk  the  suffering  for  the  hope  of  usefulness, 
my  dear  kind  friends  interfered  and  forbade  the  at- 
tempt ;  but  I  can  wait  no  longer,  and  therefore 
hoping  for  the  best,  and  intending  to  write  very 
little,  I  set  to  work  with  a  heart  so  full,  that  neither 
time  nor  paper  will  satisfy  me.  Perhaps  you  think, 
I  am  old  enough  to  act  without  the  control  of 
friends.  I  might  do  so  perhaps,  but  our  Savior,  re- 
member, '  pleased  not  Himself ;'  His  will  was  not 
His  rule,  as  it  is  with  too  many  of  us  naturally ; 
but  when  the  grace  of  God  renews  the  mind,  all 
the  principles  of  action  are  reversed,  and  instead 
of  first  seeking  to  please  ourselves,  and  then,  if  it 
give  us  no  trouble,  or  be  to  our  own  interest,  pleas- 
ing others,  the  rule  now  is  love,  self  is  cast  down 
like  Dagon  before  the  Ark,  and  the  first  enquiry  is, 
How  can  I  please  God  ?  then.  How  can  I  please 
those  around  me  ?  and  there  is  far  more  happiness 
in  making  a  great  sacrifice  of  our  own  inclinations 
for  the  pleasure  of  another,  than  the  most  selfish 
being  ever  gained  by  making  every  thing  give  way 
to  please  himself.  Where  love  to  God  and  man  is 
implanted  in  the  heart  by  the  Holy  Spirit's  blest 
influences,  we  scarcely  need  be  reminded,  that  we 
are  '  not  to  please  ourselves,'  for  the  lovely  cata- 
logue of  graces  described  so  repeatedly  in  the 
Scriptures,  (and  which  I  should  ask  you  to  refresh 
me  by  reading  to  me  this  moment,  if  you  were  by 
my  side,)  necessarily  spring  up  one  after  the  other, 
as  we  '  grow  in  grace,'  till  we  bear  the  lovely, 
though,  but  faint  image  of  our  incarnate  Lord.  I 


372 


THE  PASTOR  S  wife;  or 


am  sure,  you  are  all  too  well  instructed  to  mistake 
my  meaning,  and  to  suppose  this  touches  your  de- 
cision for  Christ  when  that  is  opposed  ;  No  :  to  give 
up  Christ  to  please  others,  would  not  be  following 
the  principle  of  love — which  would  make  you 
ready  to  relinquish  your  personal  ease  or  gratifica- 
tion for  another.  The  one  will  make  you  a  bless- 
ing in  your  family,  and  contribute  to  every  one's 
comfort :  the  other  would  make  you  despicable  in 
the  eyes  of  those  whom  you  seek  to  please  at  such 
a  price,  and  oh!  how  utterly  despised  in  the  sight 

"My  beloved  friends,  I  believe  many  of  you 
have  around  you  those  who  spare  no  pains  to  draw 
you  from  Christ,  and  will  you  listen  to  such  cruel 
soul-destroying  friends,  falsely  so  called  ?  The 
apostle  describes  the  depths  of  misery  in  which  the 
natural  mind  is,  by  that  most  striking  and  compre- 
hensive statement,  '  without  Christ,'  '  without  God,' 
and  '  without  hope  ;'  and  while  He  waits  to  be  your 
eternal  portion,  and  offers  Himself  to  you,  will  you 
gratify  a  miserable  lost  fellow-sinner  by  yielding  to 
the  advice  which  must  be  his  eternal  ruin  as  well 
as  yours,  if  followed  ?  No  ;  I  dare  not  believe  that 
you  have  to  so  little  purpose  heard  of  the  '  height 
and  depth,  and  length  and  breadth  of  love'  to  you 
— of  the  joys  which  far  outweigh  the  crosses  of 
His  service — of  the  supplies  of  grace  from  Himself, 
proportioned  to  every  degree  of  your  need  which 
He  has  promised  so  many  times,  and  bestowed  upon 
many  whom  you  know — of  the  sense  of  His  unseen 
presence  here,  and  of  His  immediate  and  eternal 
presence  in  heaven,  to  which  His  Spirit  is  to  be 
your  constant  Guide  and  Teacher ;  and  besides 
these,  the  unnumbered  supplies  of  blessings  to  even 
the  very  meanest  and  feeblest  of  His  flock — with 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


373 


all  these  so  frequently  brought  before  you,  can  you 
be  tempted  to  forsake  Him  to  please  a  worldly 
friend,  one  who  is  an  enemy  to  Him,  and  as  cer- 
tainly to  you  ?  Read  that  beautiful  hymn,  begin- 
ning, '  When  any  turn  from  Zion's  way,'  and  re- 
solve, not  in  your  own  strength,  but  in  His,  that 
you  will  '  come  out  from  among'  those  companions 
who  would  entice  you  from  Him,  either  by  influ- 
ence or  example  ;  but  if  your  own  family,  and  those 
with  whom  your  duty  bids  you  live,  entice — fear 
not,  God  is  on  your  side :  He  knows  the  most  mi- 
nute circumstance  that  occurs.  He  has  in  kindness 
and  faithfulness  put  you  into  this  fiery  furnace  to 
try  your  love ;  to  purge  away  the  dross  and  sin 
which  interrupt  the  formation  of  His  image  in  your 
souls,  and  He  sits  by  watching  the  progress  of  this 
refining  process.  It  is  often  the  means  He  employs 
to  fit  for  eminent  usefulness  in  His  church,  and 
when  He  sees  His  own  image  reflected  in  you,  your 
will  moulded  into  His,  your  love  of  sin  and  self 
eradicated,  and  holiness  your  joy,  then  the  precious 
one  in  His  sight  will  be  not  another  moment  in  the 
furnace.  Therefore,  instead  of  weeping,  and  some- 
times I  fear  repining,  at  your  distressing  position, 
rather  weep  that  you  are  so  slow  to  get  the  bless- 
ing He  is  working  for  you  ;  take  courage,  and  seek 
to  win  your  persecutors  to  Jesus,  by  the  heavenly 
and  Christ-like  spirit  with  which  you  bear  their 
opposition ;  thus  you  may  bring  honor  to  your 
Savior  at  least,  if  not  salvation  eventually  to  them. 

"  I  could  write  much  more  than  my  paper  or 
strength  would  allow  on  this  point,  but  I  must  now 
refer  to  the  solemn  event  which  has  suddenly  re- 
moved from  your  number  one  so  young,  lovely,  and 
apparently  strong  and  healthy.  Death  has  rarely 
visited  that  dear  class,  and  who  shall  be  the  next  ? 
32 


374 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


is  an  enquiry  for  each  :  or  rather,  How  shall  I  meet 
God,  should  I  be  the  next  ?  It  is  not  for  us  to  pass 
judgment  on  the  dead ;  perhaps,  were  it  ours  to 
do  so,  she  was  one  more  than  usually  difficult  to 
describe,  as  to  the  state  in  which  death  met  her. 
She  had  many  struggles  with  a  worldly  heart,  and 
through  the  faithful  and  continual  elforts  of  one  of 
your  number,  she  at  times  seemed  almost  a  Chris- 
tian, conscious,  apparently,  that  she  could  never  be 
happy  till  she  had  renounced  her  vain  pleasures  and 
worldly  character,  yet  too  little  affected  with  the 
awful  character  of  sin  in  the  sight  of  God,  either  to 
repent  of  it  or  to  prize  the  great  and  only  atone- 
ment;  had  she  seen  these  points  aright,  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  we  know  she  could  not  have  waver- 
ed between  Christ  and  the  world.  It  is  from  our 
not  feeling  the  awful  evil  of  sin,  that  we  do  not 
prize  the  precious  work  of  Christ  for  our  redemp- 
tion ;  and  the  mind  is  either  quite  undecided  for 
God,  or  if  His  service  be  chosen,  piety  is  but  a  very 
feeble  spark,  bringing  little  or  no  glory  to  Him. 
Oh !  my  beloved  friends,  bring  not  a  divided  heart 
to  such  a  Friend  and  Savior :  He  demands,  not 
only  by  His  authority  and  right,  but  by  His  im- 
measurable love  to  you,  all  your  heart ;  '  present 
your  whole  spirit,  soul  and  body,  a  living  sacrifice 
to  Him,'  and  when  you  have  given  up  all,  even  if 
you  were  called  to  such  a  sacrifice,  what  have  you 
(lone  for  such  a  Savior  ?  and  what  have  you  lost, 
compared  with  what  you  have  gained  in  possessing 
Him  and  His  great  salvation  ?  Oh  I  aim  at  exalted 
piety,  at  eminent  holiness,  at  extensive  usefulness, 
you  who  boar  the  Christian  name ;  and  you  who 
are  not  His,  oh !  think  how  death  seized  your 
friend,  (we  sometimes  fear,  though  we  cannot  bear 
the  thought,)  while  hesitating;  there  is  no  middle 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


375 


state  before  God.  She  was  in  Christ,  and  eternally 
safe,  or  (dreadful  thought)  'without  Christ  and 
without  hope ;'  and  can  you  wait  another  moment 
without  an  earnest  prayer,  while  hearing  this  letter, 
that  you  may  rather  be  destitute  of  home,  of  food, 
of  friends,  of  everything  necessary  to  your  exist- 
ence, than  without  Christ. 

"  By  every  argument  of  which  love  can  conceive, 
I  would  implore  each  of  you  to  make  the  decision 
this  moj;nent,  that  you  will  '  give  God  no  rest, 
until  He  has  made  you  His  child,  and  till  you  may 
call  Him  your  Father,  your  '  own  God.'  Send 
your  mental  prayer  to  Him  before  you  go  home ; 
there  get  by  yourself,  and  tell  Him,  without  dis- 
guise, how  entirely  insensible  you  are  to  your  state 
in  His  sight,  and  that  you  do  not  value  Christ  or 
his  salvation  in  consequence ;  tell  Him  how  this 
aggravates  your  guilt,  and  that  therefore  you  the 
more  need  His  help.  Remind  Him  that  you  are 
the  very  character  '  He  came  to  seek  and  to  save,' 
— 'lost' — 'them  that  are  lost;'  this  one  word  ex- 
actly describes  your  state,  and  were  this  the  only 
encouragement  in  the  Bible  to  seek  Him,  it  would 
be  enough ;  but  you  can  find  unnumbered  passages 
of  the  same  gracious  character.  Well,  tell  Him 
this :  tell  Him,  His  obedience  and  atoning  death 
have  satisfied  Divine  Justice,  so  that  God  can  now 
pardon  and  accept  you  for  His  sake,  though  not  for 
your  own.  Tell  Him,  His  resurrection,  ascension, 
intercession  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  His  gift 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  prove  this  blessed  fact,  and  have 
done  so  ever  since  He  rose.  He  is  fer  more  willing 
to  save  you  than  you  are  to  be  saved,  and  He  be- 
seeches you,  by  His  ministers,  and  by  His  provi- 
dences, to  be  reconciled  to  God.'  How  easily  you 
yield  when  a  fellow-creature  beseeches  you,  and 


376 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


sometimes  sadly  to  your  injury.  And  can  you  re- 
fuse eternal  happiness  through  forgiveness,  recon- 
ciliation to  God,  and  deliverance  from  sin,  misery, 
and  hell  ?  My  beloved  friends,  perhaps  we  may 
never  meet  again  on  earth,  but  certainly  we  shall 
meet  at  that  great  day,  when  you  and  I  must  give 
account  of  ourselves  to  God.  If  you  refuse  and 
neglect  the  offered  deliverance  '  from  the  wrath  to 
come,'  your  reason  must  be  given,  and  then  your 
awful  sentence,  '  Depart  ye  cursed.'  Ask  yourself 
now,  why  you  are  not  Christ's,  and  compel  jour- 
self  to  answer  ;  and  then,  surely,  your  madness  will 
appear  to  yourself,  and  you  will  flee  to  Him,  to 
emancipate  you  from  the  fetters  which  bind  your 
reason,  your  soul,  to  your  eternal  ruin.  My  be- 
loved friends,  holiness  is  the  joy  of  heaven  :  '  follow 
after  holiness,'  without  one  exception  among  you, 
and  this  shall  give  greater  joy  to  the  angels  around 
the  Throne,  than  even  to  her  whose  anxieties,  hopes, 
and  fears,  have  dictated  this  long  letter. 

Your  ever  affectionate,  attached  friend, 
"  Martha  Sherman." 

The  last  written  proof  of  her  joy  at  the  increase 
of  means  of  grace  for  the  young,  in  connection  with 
Surrey  Chapel,  is  a  note  to  Mr.  Hadland,  on  the 
formation  of  a  select  class,  meeting  in  the  class- 
room on  Sabbath  afternoons,  for  the  female  children 
of  respectable  fiirailies  in  the  congregation,  which  a 
young  lady  of  eminent  piety  and  suitable  education 
had  consented  to  superintend,  and  to  which  she 
sent  her  daughter  as  one  of  the  first  pupils. 

"As  writing  is  painfid  to  me,  I  am  sure,  my 
dear  sir,  you  will  excuse  me  for  expressing  in  few 
words,  my  heartfelt  joy  at  the  proposal  in  your 
note,  and  my  earnest  desire  that  the  parents  will 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


377 


not  allow  trifling  impediments  or  inconvenience,  to 
deprive  their  little  ones  of  the  long  needed  privi- 
leges now  offered  them.  Three  years  ago  the 
subject  was  suggested  by  yourself,  I  think,  and  I 
had  lamented  that  no  practical  arrangement  fol- 
lowed. Now  I  trust  the  time  is  come,  and  God  is 
about  to  answer  the  many  prayers  of  His  people  for 
an  increase  of  family  religion  among  us,  by  fulfdling 
His  word,  '  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  suck- 
lings thou  hast  perfected  praise.'  " 
"Clay  Hill,  Sept.  20th,  1847." 

As  the  winter  approached,  a  warmer  atmosphere 
became  necessary  for  her  comfort,  and  she  removed, 
accompanied  by  her  family,  to  Hastings,  where  the 
loving  kindness  of  her  Heavenly  Father  was  sig- 
nally manifested.  She  now  felt  that  the  ascent  of 
a  few  stairs  required  greater  exertion  than  she 
could  make,  her  little  remaining  strength  declined 
daily  ;  but  that  which  gladdened  the  heart  of  her 
husband,  and  made  her  path  to  the  tomb  smoother, 
was  the  removal  of  the  mental  darkness,  and  the 
return  of  the  joys  of  God's  salvation.  On  Christ- 
mas day,  four  days  after  her  arrival,  in  the  last 
note  she  was  permitted  to  write,  she  states  her  grief 
that  her  spirit  was  still  clouded. 

"  As  to  your  affectionate  hope  for  the  future,  we 
must  leave  that  to  Him  who  is  able  to  heal,  if  it  be 
His  gracious  will ;  and  though  I  strongly  cling  to 
life,  I  cannot  desire  it  for  one  moment,  if  He  see 
my  removal  better.  I  can  leave  it  in  His  hands,  I 
think  cheerfully  ;  notwithstanding  the  dismal  doubts 
that  harass  me.  My  mind  is  really  a  mass  of  con- 
tradictions, and  I  cannot  understand  myself.  Oh, 
how  blissful  will  it  be,  if  all  be  found  right  at  last! 
but  my  poor  spirit  is  much  oppressed :  may  I  not 


378 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


be  left  to  dishonor  my  best  Friend  in  this  time  of 
the  hidings  of  His  blessed  face  from  me !" 

On  the  Wednesday  in  the  following  week,  her 
husband,  who  came  to  London  on  Saturday,  for 
the  duties  of  his  charge  returned  to  Hastings,  and 
found  the  mind  of  the  precious  invalid  still  over- 
whelmed. After  she  had  retired  to  rest,  he  went 
into  her  chamber  to  commend  her  to  God,  and  to 
("omfort  her  troubled  heart  with  the  promises  of  His 
faithful  word.  It  was  a  night  much  to  be  remem- 
bered ;  the  spirit  of  prayer  was  poured  out,  and 
the  words  of  Scripture  pleaded  in  faith,  were  ap- 
plied by  the  Spirit  of  God  to  her  soul.  After  he 
rose  from  his  knees,  the  first  words  from  her  lips 
that  saluted  his  ear,  were,  "  The  Lord  is  nigh  unto 
them  that  are  of  a  broken  heart,  and  saveth  such 
as  be  of  a  contrite  spirit.  Return  unto  thy  rest,  O 
my  soul,  for  the  Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with 
thee,  for  thou  hast  delivered  my  soul  from  death, 
mine  eyes  from  tears,  and  my  feet  from  falling." 
Relieved  by  a  flood  of  tears,  but  without  rapture 
or  enthusiasm — calm  as  a  summer's  eve,  after  a 
shower  of  rain  has  refreshed  the  earth,  and  the 
clouds  are  brilliant  with  the  glory  of  a  setting  sun — 
she  began  to  trace  the  dealings  of  God  with  her 
soul,  from  the  death  of  her  sister  to  the  present 
hour,  in  language  beautifully  simple  but  very  affect- 
ing, and  concluded  her  review  by  emphatically  re- 
peating : 

"  True  I've  been  a  foolish  creature, 
And  have  slighted  oft  His  grace, 
Yet  forgiveness  is  His  nature, 
Even  when  He  hides  His  face  : 
After  so  much  mercy  past, 
Will  He  let  me  sink  at  last?" 


To  the  enquiry  whether  talking  did  not  distress 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


379 


her,  she  repHed — "  Not  at  all ;  I  am  not  excited, 
but  relieved — my  mind  has  never  lost  its  hold  of 
the  atonement ;  all  along  the  sufficiency  of  my  Sa- 
vior's merits  has  been  my  stay ;  the  covenant  of 
grace  has  appeared  like  the  bow  round  the  throne,  re- 
presenting God's  glory  and  my  security  ;  but  Satan, 
taking  advantage  of  a  weak  body,  has  pressed  a 
defect  in  my  Christian  conduct  upon  my  spirit, 
when  my  faith  was  not  lively  enough  to  apply  the 
blood  of  Christ  for  the  pardon  of  that  particular 
sin.  But  when  you  quoted  that  passage  in  your 
prayer,  'We  also  joy  in  God  through  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ,  by  whom  we  have  now  received  the 
atonement,'  light  flashed  on  my  mind,  as  if  I  had 
obtained  a  new  idea — that  while  I  had  been  re- 
commending others  to  receive  the  atonement,  re- 
joicing in  its  power  to  save  them,  and  also  welcom- 
ing it  in  my  judgment  as  amply  sufficient  to  remove 
all  my  guilt — I  had  not  received  it  for  the  sin 
which  oppressed  me ;  and  immediately,  blessed  be 
my  Savior,  I  did  receive  it — saw  the  sin  as  black 
as  ever,  but  the  guilt  gone,  and  I  can  now  rejoice 
in  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 

Then  in  a  celestial  strain  she  pictured  forth  the 
glories  of  an  unseen  world,  and  especially  its  per- 
fect holiness,  and  seemed  borne  on  wings  of  faith  and 
love  into  it.  Carried  away  by  the  surprise  and  joy  of 
the  consecrated  hour,  the  writer,  overwhelmed  as  he 
was,  found  it  impossible  to  retain  in  form  the  expres- 
sions which  fell  from  her  sanctified  lips — but  their 
savor  will  never  be  lost.  When  he  rose  to  take  leave, 
in  order  that  she  might  have  bodily  rest,  as  she 
grasped. his  hand  and  bid  him  "good  night,"  she 
lifted  her  joyous  eyes  to  heaven,  and  said  : 

"  Never  let  me  go  till  I 
Upborne  on  wings  of  love, 


380 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


Join  the  regions  of  the  sky, 

And  take  my  seat  above. 

Thou  hast  passed  thy  gracious  word 

That  thou  wilt  bring  me  safely  through, 

Thou  wilt,  therefore,  keep  me  Lord, 

And  never  let  me  go." 

The  conversation  of  Moses  and  Elias  on  the 
Mount,  concerning  the  things  which  Christ  should 
accomplish  at  Jerusalem,  it  may  be  presumed  was 
expressed  in  language  and  tones  suited  to  the  dig- 
nity of  the  glorious  theme,  and  that  this  greatly 
helped  to  produce  those  emotions  in  the  hearts  of 
the  disciples  which  led  them  to  exclaim,  "  Lord,  it 
is  good  to  be  here."  And  in  this  interview  it  was 
remarkably  the  case — with  a  countenance  not  na- 
turally deficient  in  beauty,  but  now  lighted  up  with 
intelligent  persuasion  of  her  Heavenly  Father's  love, 
her  eyes  brilliant  by  disease,  now  sparkling  with  con- 
scious joy — her  tongue,  from  which  the  law  of  kind- 
ness had  never  departed,  now  delivering,  in  tones  of 
devotion  and  tenderness,  and  in  language  sublimely 
beautiful,  descriptions  of  the  merit  of  Christ's  death 
and  the  glory  into  which  it  would  introduce  her — 
made  an  impression  on  the  mind  of  the  writer,  of 
the  place,  the  subject,  and  the  blessedness  of  the 
righteous,  which  time  can  never  efface  :  "  Lord,  it  is 
good  to  be  here,"  naturally  rose  from  his  heart,  and 
found  utterance  in  private,  where  a  thank-offering 
was  presented  for  the  recent  deliverance  of  the  suffer- 
ing disciple.  It  is  remarkable  that  after  an  exertion 
so  great,  to  one  in  extreme  weakness,  she  had  a 
better  night's  rest,  and  had  more  vigor  for  a  few 
days  than  she  had  experienced  for  some  time. 

She  was  favored  with  repeated  visits  from  the 
Rev.  J.  Davies,  the  Rev.  J.  Vorcs,  and  the  Rev. 
C.  D.  Bell ;  the  latter  living  near,  was  kind  enough 
often  to  spend  a  short  time  with  her  in  religious 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


381 


exercises  as  she  could  bear  them,  and  to  lend  his 
sermons  at  her  request,  parts  of  which  were  often 
read  to  her.  He  showed  both  the  interest  and  af- 
fection of  a  Christian  brother  in  her  affliction :  the 
Lord  will  reward  him !  She  suggested  to  this  ex- 
cellent clergyman,  the  formation  of  a  Bible  class 
for  young  men,  and  the  gratification  with  which 
she  heard  of  the  immediate  adoption  of  her  hint, 
was  increased  before  she  left  Hastings,  by  intelli- 
gence that  the  class  was  increasing  in  numbers  and 
interest. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  1848,  she  removed 
from  White  Rock  to  an  exceedingly  warm  house  in 
Wellington  Square,  which  yielded  more  comforts  to 
an  invalid,  and  where  the  violence  of  the  sea  was 
scarcely  heard  or  felt.  Though  a  little  revived  by 
the  change,  it  was  clear  to  all,  that  the  disease  was 
now  making  greater  progress,  and  of  this  she  be- 
came more  conscious,  yet  struggling  against  in- 
firmity, to  maintain  her  habits  of  early  rising  and 
independent  action.  At  this  crisis,  the  advice  of 
Dr.  Moore  was  sought,  a  physician  who  combines 
with  great  practical  skill,  a  deep  acquaintance  with 
doctrinal  and  experimental  religion,  and  who  has  a 
facility  and  tenderness  of  communicating  it,  which 
renders  him  invaluable  to  a  pious  invalid — nor  less 
so  to  one  who  needs  piety.  To  Mrs.  Sherman  his 
visits  were  blessings  indeed,  and  his  first  prescrip- 
tion did  more  to  mitigate  suffering,  and  afford  rest, 
than  any  medicine  she  had  previously  taken. 

Few  things  were  parted  with  more  reluctantly 
than  her  little  collecting  books,  containing  lists  of 
subscribers  to  the  various  societies:  these  she  kept 
in  her  own  hands  till  the  very  last ;  and,  even  when 
unable  to  write  herself,  notes  were  written  by  her 
amanuensis  as  her  temporary  substitute,  either  so- 


382 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


liciting  fresh  donations,  or  the  continuance  of  for- 
mer subscriptions ;  so  fondly  did  she  cling  to  them, 
and  so  long  did  she  apparently  cherish  the  hope  of 
again  renewing  active  interest  in  them.  A  few 
days,  however,  before  the  final  opinion  of  Dr. 
Moore  was  given  of  immediate  danger,  as  if  antici- 
pating what  that  opinion  would  be,  she  desired  that 
they  might  be  brought  to  her,  and  arranging  them 
before  her,  requested  that  letters  might  be  written 
to  several  friends  whom  she  named,  bequeathing 
them  as  legacies  to  their  care.  A  stranger  entering 
the  room  at  that  moment  would  scarcely  have  no- 
ticed the  slight  and  transient  shade  of  sadness  that 
passed  over  her  brow  as  she  gave  this  affecting 
commission,  it  was  so  slight,  as  only  to  be  discerni- 
ble by  those  who  knew  full  well  the  inward  strug- 
gle that  had  preceded  that  resolution,  and  so  tran- 
sient, as  to  disappear  almost  as  soon  as  observed. 
Her  collections  for  the  Jews — the  City  Mission — 
the  School  for  Missionaries'  Children  at  Waltham- 
stow,  the  Dorcas  and  Missionary  Societies — were 
among  those  intended  to  be  thus  distributed,  and 
though  the  sudden  return  of  the  family  to  London, 
prevented  some  of  the  letters  from  being  written,  it 
is  believed  that  all  to  whom  these  several  collec- 
tions were  transferred,  consider  them  in  the  sacred 
light  of  a  dying  bequest.  The  case  of  an  orphan 
for  whose  election  into  the  Working  School  she 
was  solicitous,  and  of  an  individual  whose  soul  she 
had  been  instrumental  in  winning  for  her  Savior, 
Avere  also  thus  solemnly  and  earnestly  commended 
to  Christian  friends. 

The  School  of  Industry,  whicli  Mr.  Hill  estab- 
lished for  clothing  and  educating  thirty  girls,  had 
from  the  commencement  of  her  residence  in  London 
orrupied  much  of  her  atlenlivc  regard,  and  it  was 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  383 


her  anxious  desire  to  resign  her  treasurership  into 
hands  which  would  sustain  and  advance  its  inter- 
ests. Soon  after  her  return  to  London,  she  sent  for 
a  dear  friend  and  committed  to  her  this  special 
charge ;  it  was  accepted,  and  subsequent  events 
have  justified  her  hopes,  for  the  continued  prosperity 
of  the  school. 

After  Dr.  Moore  had  paid  her  several  visits,  her 
husband,  that  he  might  judge  better  of  her  state, 
became  anxious  to  learn  his  candid  opinion,  and  en- 
quired if  he  thought  she  had  passed  what  was 
termed  the  second  stage  of  the  disease.  His  reply, 
in  substance,  instantly  was,  "  Yes,  she  is  now  in  the 
last  stage,  and  may  be  removed  suddenly  and  soon, 
though  it  is  not  improbable  she  may  linger  till  April 
or  May — home  I  consider  the  best  place  for  her,  to 
which  she  ought  to  return  as  quickly  as  possible." 
This  opinion  was  expresse4  in  great  sympathy,  but 
being  very  unexpected,  it  yielded  to  her  relatives 
abundant  sorrow. 

On  her  husband  now  devolved  the  affecting  duty 
of  announcing  to  her,  that  the  sickness  was  unto 
death.  With  many  struggles  between  affection  and 
fidelity  to  a  promise  previously  made  to  her,  he  ac- 
complished his  painful  task.  The  serenity  with 
which  she  listened  to  the  communication,  and  the 
joy  with  which  she  expressed  that  "  it  was  quite  a 
relief  to  her  spirit,"  not  only  surprised  him,  but 
comforted  his  bleeding  heart.  She  said,  "  Well, 
He  who  loved  me,  and  saved  my  soul,  can  save  and 
bless  my  husband  and  children ;  to  His  fiiithful 
hands  I  commend  them,"  the  tears  gushed  from  her 
eyes — but  recovering  herself  in  a  minute  or  two, 
she  said,  "  Do  not  misunderstand  my  weeping,  that 
is  nature  feeling  the  wrench  from  the  objects  of  its 


384 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE  ;  OR 


affection — but  my  nobler  part  says,  I  desire  to  de- 
part and  to  be  wth  Christ,  which  is  far  better." 

Her  friend.  Miss  Neele,  thus  records  the  cir- 
cumstances which  immediately  followed  this  an- 
nouncement : — "  When  I  first  saw  her  after  Dr. 
Moore's  opinion  of  more  immediate  danger  had 
been  communicated  to  her,  she  was  lying  on  the 
sofa  in  the  drawing-room  ;  as  I  slowly  opened  the 
door,  she  held  out  her  arms  to  me,  with  a  smile, 
as  if  to  remove  my  hesitation,  and  though  for  a 
few  moments  the  tear  flowed  silently  down  her 
cheek,  she  said,  almost  immediately,  '  When  Mr. 
Sherman  told  me  all,  I  felt  conscious  that  neither 
heart  nor  pulse  moved  more  quickly,  in  the  least.' 
I  said,  '  Perhaps  it  was  not  such  a  surprise  to  you ; 
I  dare  say  you  were  better  prepared  to  receive 
the  intelligence  than  we  were.'  She  answered, 
'No,  I  was  not  at  all,  prepared — I  had  given  up 
all  expectation  of  ever  being  well  again,  but  I 
had  no  idea  that  I  should  leave  you  so  soon.' 
Thus,  '  perfect  peace'  within,  produced  perfect 
calmness  without ;  and  as  '  Love  begets  love,'  so 
calmness  produced  calmness;  and  when  she  sub- 
sequently dictated,  with  unruffled  and  even  cheer- 
ful composure,  various  arrangements  which  she 
wished  made  after  her  decease,  it  was  scarcely 
possible  for  those  around  her  to  feel  agitated, 
though  often  themselves  wondering  how  they  could 
be  so  calm,  while  watching  the  gradual  decay  of 
one  so  beloved." 

On  February  13th,  she  left  Hastings  for  the  Par- 
sonage, and  arrived  there  far  less  fatigued  than 
could  have  been  anticipated  from  her  great  weak- 
ness ;  never  more  to  leave  it  till  carried  to  "  the 
house  appointed  for  all  living." 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


385 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

DEATH  AND  FUNERAL. 

•  Immediately  after  Mrs.  Sherman's  return  to 
her  beloved  home,  she  began  to  set  her  house  in 
order,  as  one  expecting  soon  to  leave  it.  With 
regard  to  herself,  every  thing  had  long  been  ready, 
and  she  but  waited  the  Master's  summons  to  enter 
into  his  service  in  the  upper  sanctuary ;  but  there 
were  arrangements  with  respect  to  others,  which 
she  was  desirous  of  having  carried  into  execution 
before  her  decease.  Her  heart  was  much  set  on 
seeing  once  more  those  friends  with  whom  she  had 
prayed  and  labored,  and  on  bidding  them  farewell — 
yet  her  weakness  was  such,  that  her  medical  at- 
tendants feared  the  excitement  which  such  numbers 
would  occasion,  especially  as  both  the  visitors  and 
the  invalid  were  likely  to  be  much  affected  with 
the  interview.  She  overruled  the  objection,  by 
assuring  them  that  the  excitement  would  be  trifling, 
compared  with  the  refreshment  it  would  afford  her 
spirit,  and  that  as  her  recovery  was  now  past  all 
reasonable  hope,  she  could  not  resist  the  gratifica- 
tion it  would  be  to  herself,  and  to  her  associates 
and  classes.  Anticipating  also  that  the  Savior 
might  call  her  suddenly  to  himself,  that  as  her 
disease  increased  in  power,  her  weakness  would  be 
proportionably  greater,  and  that  if  the  present  op- 
portunity were  not  seized,  she  might  be  unable  to 
see  them  at  all,  she  determined  on  meeting  them  as 
speedily  as  possible.    Accordingly,  on  Lord's-day, 


386 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


February  14th,  when  the  Sunday  afternoon  class 
met,  all  its  members  were  invited  to  come  into  the 
study,  where  reposing  on  a  couch,  she  was  waiting 
to  receive  them.  Between  forty  and  fifty  young 
persons  were  introduced  to  her  singly — each  was 
welcomed  with  an  inexpressibly  sweet  smile,  and 
had  a  kind  word  addressed  to  her ;  and  those 
among  them  who  traced  their  conversion  to  her 
faithful  labors,  had  a  special  sentence  of  warning 
and  encouragement.  Expecting  to  see  her  ema- 
ciated, and  sinking  almost  unconscious  into  the 
arms  of  death,  they  were  surprised  to  behold  a 
countenance  radiant  with  heavenly  joy,  and  to 
hear  words  of  life  and  salvation  from  lips  anointed 
with  grace.  Each  kissed  her  hand,  and  received 
from  her  a  book  as  a  dying  gift.  Her  hvisband 
commended  them  to  God  in  her  presence,  by  a 
brief  prayer. 

On  the  next  day,  Monday,  the  mothers  of  the 
humbler  class  met  in  the  school-room  for  their  usual 
exercise,  and  were  invited  to  come  and  take  a  last 
glance  of  the  loving  face,  which  had  so  oft  wel- 
comed them  with  smiles^ — cheered  them  in  trouble, 
and  instructed  them  in  duty.  As  no  previous  no- 
tice had  been  given,  they  were  taken  by  surpise, 
but  their  behavior  on  this  occasion  justified  the  dy- 
ing saint's  repeated  observation,  that  only  let  the 
pious  poor  feel  you  take  an  interest  in  their  wel- 
fare, without  abridging  their  independence,  and  they 
will  honor  and  love  you.  It  was  delightful  to 
witness  their  tenderness,  respect,  and  gratitude — the 
subdued  tones  in  which  they  spoke  to  their  bene- 
factress, and  the  delicacy  which  they  exhibited 
during  the  sad  interview.  Shaking  the  hand  of 
each,  and  receiving  the  kiss  of  charity  upon  her 
own,  she  bade  them  farewell  with  a  look  of  affec- 


MKMOIR  OF  MKS.  SHERMAN. 


3b7 


tionate  regard,  that  will  not  be  easily  forgotten. 
Where  special  circumstances  required,  she  address- 
ed a  few  words  suitable  to  the  state  of  the  mothers 
before  her,  which  melted  many  hearts.  Her  hus- 
band delivered  to  them  the  dying  charge  of  their 
friend  and  leader — to  adhere  to  Christ  and  his  ser- 
vice, to  maintain  their  Maternal  Association,  and 
to  meet  her  in  glory !  and  then  in  a  short  prayer 
commended  them  also  to  God. 

On  Wednesday,  the  ladies,  who  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  meet  at  her  house  once  a  month  to  talk 
over  their  common  hope,  and  the  best  means  of 
training  their  children  for  heaven,  assembled  by  ap- 
pointment for  a  similar  purpose.  When  told  that 
they  were  waiting  to  be  introduced  to  her,  and 
asked  if  she  had  any  message,  as  she  could  with 
difficulty  speak  to  them  herself — she  said,  "  I  am 
afraid  to  say  all  I  feel  on  the  subject  of  these  Ma- 
ternal Associations,  lest  I  should  seem  to  under- 
value any  other  society  connected  with  the  chapel, 
but  I  do  think  them  of  the  first  importance,  and 
though  I  trust  all  will  continue  to  flourish,  I  would 
rather  any  should  decline  than  these."  She  then 
added  with  energy,  "  Oh,  tell  the  ladies  never, 
never,  never,  to  forsake  the  Maternal  Associa- 
tions." 

A  record  of  this  meeting  and  interview  having 
been  preserved  by  the.secretary,  it  is  here  given. 

"  The  members  of  the  '  Surrey  Chapel  Maternal 
Association,'  met  in  the  Library  on  Wednesday, 
the  16th  of  February,  1848,  and  commenced  wor- 
ship by  singing  the  two  following  verses : 

"  It  is  the  Lord,  enthroned  in  light, 

Whosp  claims  are  all  divine; 
Who  has  an  undisputed  right 

To  govern  me  and  mine. 


388 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


It  is  the  Lord.    Should  I  distrust, 

Or  contradict  His  will  ? 
Who  cannot  do  but  what  is  just, 

And  must  be  righteous  still." 

"  One  member  read  part  of  the  fourteenth  chap- 
ter of  St.  John's  gospel;  another  entreated  the 
Savior's  blessing  on  the  solemn  interview,  a  third 
read  the  forty-sixth  Psalm.  The  secretary  then 
supplicated  a  blessing  on  their  beloved  friend,  and 
read  the  following  address : 

"  We  are  met  under  circumstances  of  deep  and 
solemn  interest,  every  heart  is  sorrowing ;  a  cloud 
is  overshadowing  us,  which  is  but  partially  dis- 
persed, by  reason  of  our  weak  faith,  only  dimly 
discovering  the  bright  light  beyond  us.  It  would 
be  out  of  season  and  triflmg,  at  such  a  moment  as 
this,  to  dwell  on  the  excellencies  of  our  beloved 
and  cherished  friend,  at  whose  request  we  have 
met.  Her  '  meekness  of  wisdom'  has  written  on 
our  hearts  what  words  can  but  feebly  express.  We 
have  often  '  taken  knowledge  of  her,'  that  she  had 
been  holding  communion  with  her  Savior,  the  fra- 
grancy  of  His  grace  upon  her  spirit  di^fused  itself 
around,  and  the  refreshment  made  us  glad.  Now, 
it  appears  she  is  going  home  to  her  Lord,  whom 
'  unseen'  she  has  loved,  and  while  our  hearts  must 
rejoice  at  her  heavenly  prospects,  we  can  but  be  in 
heaviness  at  the  chilling  thought  of  separation. 
How  difficult  it  is  to  resign  her !  How  fondly  we 
have  cherished  the  hope  in  past  days,  when  we 
thus  met,  that  she  would  be  restored  to  our  prayers, 
and  that  we  should  have  been  permitted  the  '  dear 
delight'  to  journey  on  with  our  lovely  companion  a 
little  further  through  the  wilderness.  It  seems  it 
must  not  be.  She  has  summoned  us  to  attend  her 
(as  we  suppose,)  on  the  banks  of  Jordan ;  she  is 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  389 

unrobing  herself  of  mortality,  and  we  look  by  faith 
over  the  deep,  dark  waters,  and  see  the  '  shining  ones' 
on  the  other  side,  beckoning  her  across  to  the  shore 
of  blessedness.  Shall  we  wish  to  detain  her  ?  O! 
selfish  that  we  are,  we  would  not  trust  our  hearts 
to  decide  the  question.  It  is,  however,  the  privi- 
lege of  the  Christian,  in  the  midst  of  expiring  joys 
and  scattered  hopes,  to  extract  treasures  of  expe- 
rience and  consolation.  Let  us,  therefore,  endeavor 
to  gather  some  improvement  and  comfort  even 
from  the  present  solemn  dispensation.  Let  us  unite 
in  fervent  prayer,  for  a  sanctified  use  of  it.  May 
we  sincerely  renew  our  covenant  with  God,  and 
afresh  consecrate  ourselves  to  His  service,  particu- 
larly in  our  engagements  in  this  society,  so  dear 
to  the  heart  of  our  beloved  friend.  May  we 
solemnly  engage,  as  God  shall  give  us  grace  to 
bring  down  blessings  on  her  dear  children,  pro- 
mised to  believing  prayer.  Let  our  beloved  pastor 
share  our  best  sympathies,  and  our  fervent  suppli- 
cations. We  have  reason  to  glorify  God  for  His 
abounding  goodness  to  His  much  honored  servant. 
He  has,  indeed,  drawn  large  consolations  from  the 
Fountain  of  all  comfort,  who  has  comforted  him  in 
all  his  tribulation,  and  has  enabled  him  to  comfort 
them  which  are  in  any  trouble,  by  the  comfort 
wherewith  he  himself  is  comforted  of  God.  Let 
us  also  continue  to  praise  our  Heavenly  Father  for 
His  unabated  mercies  to  our  beloved  friend,  in 
keeping  her  mind  in  '  perfect  peace,'  and  enabling 
her,  in  every  changing  scene,  to  trust  in  her  un- 
changing God.  What  remains  for  us  now  but  to 
pray  that  '  so  an  entrance  may  be  ministered  to 
her  abundantly  into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  our 
Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ ;'  and  in  the  event 
of  this  being  our  final  farewell  on  earth,  how  cheer- 
33* 


390  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

ing  is  the  thought,  that  though  our  best  Friend 
has  determined  that  we  must  part  for  a  little  sea- 
son, He  '  will  leave  our  bond  of  union  unbroken,' 
for  ere  long  every  member  of  the  redeemed  family- 
shall  be  gathered  by  the  Savior's  call,  and  in  ac- 
cordance with  His  prayer,  '  Father,  I  will  that 
they  also  whom  Thou  hast  given  me,  be  with  me 
where  I  am,  that  they  may  behold  ray  glory.' 
'In  His  presence  is  fullness  of  joy,'  and  there  shall 
our  friendship  be  perfected,  no  infirmity  there  to 
impede  its  full  exercise,  or  check  its  growth,  for 
we  shall  be  '  without  fault,  before  the  Throne  of 
God.'  Let  us,  therefore,  '  comfort  one  another 
with  these  words.' 

*'  After  our  dear  friend  Mrs.  S          had  closed 

with  prayer,  we  retired  to  the  adjoining  house,  en- 
deared to  all  of  us  by  many  sacred  and  sweet  asso- 
ciations. Can  we  ever  forget  our  interview  in  that 
chamber  ?  '  Privileged,'  indeed,  it  seemed, '  beyond 
the  common  walk  of  virtuous  hfe,  just  on  the  verge 
of  heaven.'  The  calm  and  heavenly  expression  of 
our  lovely  friend  hushed  our  agitation  ;  w^e  beheld 
her  taking  firm  hold  of  that  '  anchor  of  the  soul 
both  sure  and  steadfast,  and  which  entereth  into  that 
within  the  veil,  whither  our  Forerunner  is  for  us 
entered,  even  Jesus.'    Yes ! — 

'Hope,  with  uplifted  foot,  set  free  from  earth, 
Pants  for  the  place  of  her  ethereal  birth ; 
On  steady  wings  sails  through  the  immense  abyss, 
Plucks  amaranthine  joys  from  bowers  of  bliss. 
And  crowns  the  soul,  while  yet  a  mourner  here, 
With  wreaths  like  those  triumphant  spirits  wear. 
Hope,  as  an  anchor,  firm  and  sure  holds  fast 
The  Christian's  vessel,  and  defies  the  blast.' 

Thus  we  parted  with  our  dear  friend,  and  after 
having  received  from  her,  through  our  honored 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  39 J 

pastor,  what  she  called  her  '  legacy,'  to  the  band 
of  Christian  mothers,  that  is,  her  charge  and  trust 
of  the  Maternal  Association,  which  she  had  formed, 
supported,  and  in  which  she  had  always  expressed 
the  most  lively  interest,  to  their  care ;  our  dear 
pastor  commended  us  all  to  the  care  and  guidance 
of  God,  and  we  '  returned,'  we  hope  in  a  more  pre- 
pared state  than  ever,  '  to  bless  our  liouseholds.'  " 
On  Thursday,  between  thirty  and  forty  of  the 
young  ladies  belonging  to  the  select  class  came 
also,  to  utter  their  adieu  to  their  loving  teacher. 
One  of  them  wrote  to  her  after  the  interview— 
"  The  legacy  you  have  bequeathed  to  me,  your 
'  collection  for  the  Jews,'  I  receive  with  a  heavy 
heart,  not  unwillingly  or  murmuringly,  I  hope,  but 
with  a  consciousness  of  unworthiness  and  unfitness 
for  the  task.  I  consider  you  have  conferred  a  great 
jirivilege  on  me,  and  I  shall  prize  very  highly  these 
parting  proofs  of  your  affectionate  regard.  The 
meeting  on  Thursday  can  never  be  forgotten :  may 
it  have  a  lasting  and  beneficial  effect  on  all.  We 
then  saw  that  true  religion  was  not  merely  a  pro- 
fession, but  a  reality.  My  prayer  has  ever  been, 
'  Lord,  spare  her,'  yet  the  wish  seems  selfish  to  de- 
tain you  from  going  home  to  your  heavenly  Father. 
The  cheering  thought  that  Jesus  is  the  resurrection 
and  the  life,  strengthens  my  faith,  and  enables  me 
to  look  beyond  the  silent  tomb,  to  the  blissful  state 
of  those  who  are  for  ever  with  the  Lord,  knowing 
that  if  I  am  among  his  believing  children,  but  a 
few  years  at  most  will  separate  us,  and  then  we 
shall  meet  again  where  partings  are  unknown. 
May  you  have  your  heart's  desire  in  meeting  all 
your  beloved  class  there !  Many  will  then  appear 
among  the  children  whom  God  has  given  you,  and 
though  since  you  have  been  laid  aside  from  active 


392 


THE  PASTOR  S  WITE  )  OR 


usefulness,  the  thought  may  sometimes  have  arisen 
that  you  have  been  useless,  God  has  in  many  in- 
stances, though  perhaps  unknown  to  you,  blessed 
your  instructions  to  others.  Many  a  kind  hint 
thrown  out  by  you  has  been  received,  and  the  ad- 
vice attended  to.  No  one  could  ever  mistake  your 
earnestness  and  affection — your  constant  desire  to 
win  our  souls  to  Christ.  '  We  remember  your  say- 
ings,' and  in  looking  back  on  the  past,  desire  to 
feel  grateful  that  we  have  been  privileged  with 
your  example  and  kind  instructions  so  long.  Ac- 
cept, my  dearest  friend,  my  best  and  sincere  thanks 
for  all  your  kindness  to  me ;  I  have  indeed  been  a 
favored  child.  I  have  always  considered  myself 
as  one  of  your  children,  for  it  was  in  your  class,  ten 
years  ago,  that  I  first  felt  a  desire  to  be  the  Lord's. 
I  owe  much  to  you  in  other  respects — in  any  diffi- 
culty, you  were  the  first  to  encourage  me ;  in  un- 
dertaking any  new  and  untried  duties,  the  know- 
ledge that  I  had  my  friend's  prayers,  stimulated  me 
to  exertion  when  I  began  to  feel  weary  and  despair 
of  success ;  and  especially  in  winning  the  timid 
disciple,  by  setting  forth  religion  in  its  sweetest 
aspects,  and  by  the  lovely  exhibition  in  yourself 
of  the  Christian  character.  Farewell,  dearest 
friend,  may  you  still  continue  to  enjoy  much  of 
your  Savior's  presence  and  perfect  peace  in  the 
prospect  of  death." 

The  refreshment  of  a  spiritual  exposition  of  scrip- 
ture, and  a  brief  prayer,  to  an  invalid,  is  well 
known  by  those  who  have  been  in  a  state  of  suffer- 
ing. It  was  the  privilege  of  her  husband  to  be  her 
daily  minister,  and  morning  and  evening  to  seize 
the  most  favorable  opportunities  to  conduct  her 
tender  spirit  into  the  green  pastures  of  the  good 
Shepherd  ;  but  it  was  suggested  to  her  that  a  visit 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


393 


from  some  man  of  God  might  cheer  and  help  her. 
She  immediately  said,  "  I  have  no  special  wish  for 
any  one — if  Mr.  George  Clayton  could  spare  a  few 
minutes,  I  should  like  to  hear  his  voice  in  prayer ; 
his  gentle  manner  would  suit  my  weakness,  and  he 
is  sure  to  say  something  to  me  about  Christ,  my 
gracious  Master,  and  his  salvation."  An  intima- 
tion of  her  wish  was  enough ;  the  Rev.  G.  Clayton 
was  with  her  the  next  day,  and  continued  his  kind 
attentions  till  prayer  was  exchanged  for  praise. 
The  comfort  she  derived  from  these  visits  was  in- 
deed great,  and  she  felt  deeply  her  obligations  to 
her  sympathizing  friend.  The  elders  of  the  church, 
with  whom  she  had  for  twelve  years  walked  in  har- 
monious co-operation,  and  who  had  ever  shown  a 
readiness  to  aid  her  in  all  her  works  of  love  to 
souls,  were  entreated  by  her,  each  in  his  turn, 
to  come  and  commend  her  spirit  to  God.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Harris  and  the  Rev.  Newman  Hall,  also 
favored  her  with  their  counsels  and  prayers.  The 
constant  attentions  and  invaluable  spiritual  aid  of 
her  old  friend.  Miss  Neele,  were  unspeakably  de- 
lightful to  the  invalid.  She  often  remarked  how 
gracious  her  Savior  had  been  to  provide  her  such  a 
companion  in  the  season  of  sickness.  To  her  me- 
moranda the  following  pages  are  indebted  for  many 
circumstances  and  observations,  which  must  other- 
wise have  been  wholly  lost. 

The  Bible  was  the  only  book  which  she  cared  to 
hear  read,  except  occasionally  a  hymn  from  the 
Invalid's  hymn  book,  or  her  husband's  selection, 
with  which  she  was  most  familiar.  At  first  she  was 
guided  as  usual  in  her  reading  by  the  "  Scripture 
Calendar,"  which  she  preferred  to  any  other,  be- 
cause it  arranged  for  the  perusal  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament and  Psalms  twice,  and  the  Old  Testament 


394 


THE  PASTORS   WIFE;  OR 


once,  in  the  course  of  the  year  ;  but  now  she  said, 
"  I  think  I  may  be  allowed  to  pick  and  choose  a 
chapter  suited  to  my  state,"  alluding  to  a  remark 
which  she  had  often  made,  that  the  whole  Bible 
should  be  regularly  read.  The  first  chapter  of  the 
Epistle  to  the  Colossians  might  be  called  her  favor- 
ite ;  she  asked  for  it  to  be  read  more  frequently 
than  any  other ;  the  first  and  second  chapters  of 
Ephesians,  and  the  eighth  of  Romans,  with  the 
thanksgiving  Psalms,  were  also  often  selected. 

After  being  in  bed  a  short  time,  one  evening,  she 
said,  "  Oh  !  I  am  so  comfortable — in  perfect  peace — 
I  do  realise  that  promise,  '  Thou  wilt  keep  Him  in 
perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  staid  on  thee.'  Now 
for  a  chapter — that  sublime  one  which  speaks  of 
the  hope  laid  up  in  heaven."  When  it  had  been 
read,  she  exclaimed,  "  Oh !  I  want  a  distiller,  to 
distill  all  its  sweetness — my  poor  mind  cannot 
dwell  long  enough  upon  it  to  extract  the  joys  it 
affords."  Those  worils  being  quoted,  "Ye  have 
need  of  patience,"  she  said,  "That  does  not  seem 
applicable  to  me — I  mean  I  have  so  many  mercies 
that  my  patience  does  not  seem  tried."  On  the 
next  day,  hearing  the  merriment  of  her  children,  in 
another  room,  her  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  she 
exclaimed,  "Oh,  that  sweet  prattle — those  en- 
chanting voices  to  a  mother's  ear."  Thinking  they 
were  too  noisy,  her  friend  was  leaving  the  room  to 
induce  them  to  be  quiet,  but  she  said,  "  Oh,  don't 
check  them,  I  love  to  hear  their  joyous  notes  when 
I  can  bear  them  ;  but  I  cannot  help  feeling  a  little 
anxious,  because  I  fear  there  is  some  danger  of  the 
little  one  being  spoiled — she  will  be  such  a  pet." 
Of  another,  she  said,  "  Oh,  for  some  hopeful  sign 
before  I  die  I" 

February  2\st. — Was  a  day  of  comparative  ease, 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


395 


which  allowed  her  to  have  a  little  more  conversa- 
tion with  her  husband  and  friend  than  her  cough 
usually  permitted.  Her  spirit  seemed  on  the  borders 
of  the  heavenly  Canaan,  looking  in  and  returning 
every  now  and  then  to  tell  those  around  her  of  its 
blessedness.  "  I  want  to  mention  one  subject," 
she  said  to  her  friend,  "  though  I  hardly  like  to  do 
so,  as  perhaps  such  a  thing  may  never  be  contem- 
plated, but  as  there  was  an  Obituary  of  dear  mam- 
ma in  the  Evangelical  Magazine,  perhaps,  as  a  mi- 
nister's wife,  there  might  be  one  of  me,  and  it  is  so 
repugnant  to  my  feelings."  "  Had  you  not  better," 
said  her  friend,  "  leave  that  to  the  judgment  of 
others — it  will  not  hurt  your  feelings  then." 
"Well,"  she  replied,  "there  are  no  papers — not 
one.  I  kept  a  diary  once,  but  I  destroyed  it,  as  the 
possibility  of  its  ever  being  made  public  so  com- 
pletely spoiled  the  profit  and  comfort  I  derived  from 
it,  that  I  would  not  keep  it — I  felt  it  was  no  longer 
only  between  God  and  my  own  soul.  It  was  chiefly 
a  record  of  my  sentiments  before  I  was  decided, 
and  was  very  useful  to  me  then.  If  there  should 
be  one.  Oh,  pray  for  a  spirit  of  wisdom  and  judg- 
ment on  the  writer — else  it  will  be  such  a  partial 
account,  dictated  by  a  heart  overflowing  with  love." 
On  repeating  that  verse  to  her,  "  For  thou.  Lord, 
wilt  bless  the  righteous,  with  favor  wilt  thou  com- 
pass him  as  with  a  shield,"  she  remarked,  "  What 
a  comfort  to  have  no  opposition  from  man,  to  have 
no  human  enemy,  and  even  Satan  seems  hardly 
able  to  get  at  me,  I  have  so  many  praying  friends ; 
but  specially  my  Savior  interceding  for  me." 

Her  husband  read  to  her  the  following  quaint, 
though  beautiful  hymn,  of  good  Mr.  Berridge : 

"  The  Lord  of  the  earth,  to  Adam  allied, 
Sends  messengers  forth  to  fetch  Him  a  bride  : 


396 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


To  many  He  chooseth  His  love  to  impart, 

And  none  He  refuseth  who  give  Him  their  heart. 

Strange  marriage,  indeed,  for  Heaven's  fair  King, 
Yet  Jesus  will  wed  with  any  poor  thing ; 
He  liketh  the  maimed,  the  halt,  and  the  blind, 
The  poor  and  defamed,  the  lowest  in  kind. 

So,  after  the  banns  are  publish'd  below, 
Comes  joining  of  hands,  with  joined  hearts  too; 
Then  debts  are  discharged,  though  heavy  they  be 
And  she  is  enlarged,  from  bondage  set  free. 

A  rich  wedding  suit  is  to  the  bride  brought, 
Of  love  the  sweet  fruit,  and  by  the  King  wrought ; 
With  this  he  does  cover  her  nakedness  quite, 
And  deck  her  all  over,  as  fair  as  the  light. 

A  ring  for  the  bride  is  from  the  King  sent, 
With  jewels  beside,  to  deck  her  heart  meant; 
With  these  she  grows  loving,  and  modest,  and  mild, 
In  good  works  improving,  and  scemeth  a  child. 

Now,  Christ  is  her  song,  her  joy,  and  her  hope; 
She  for  Him  will  sigh,  and  long  to  look  up; 
And  He  from  His  tower  peeps  on  her  e'erwhile, 
And  tells  His  love  to  her,  and  drops  her  a  smile. 

At  length  the  approach  of  wedding  is  come,. 
And,  lo,  a  state-coach  to  fetch  the  bride  home  j 
Kind  angels  are  bringing  her  fast  as  she  list. 
And  up  she  goes  singing,  Hosanna  to  Christ." 

"  Oh,  that  is  exquisite — read  that  last  verse  again." 
"  But  you  did  not  expect  to  go  up  singing,  did 
you  ?"  "  Yes,  I  did,  though  I  was  under  a  cloud 
—heaviness  may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh 
in  the  morning — I  know  I  shall  go  up  singing — 
read  it  again." 

On  another  evening,  after  much  pain  and  ex- 
haustion, "  Oh,  it  is  hard  to  get  into  bed  without 
prayer :  but  He  knows  I  would  pray,  if  I  could — 
my  knees,  in  health,  have  bent  with  cheerfulness 
before  him,  my  most  hallowed  joys  have  been  in 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


397 


the  devotions  of  my  closet — and  the  savor  of  that 
communion  is  not  lost  yet — but  I  can  now  only 
mentally  cry,  in  brief  sentences,  for  His  help  and 
favor."  Again,  after  a  little  pause,  "  I  fear  I  do 
not  feel  that  love  to  immortal  souls  which  I  ought — 
surely  the  nearer  I  get  to  heaven,  the  more  I  ought 
to  feel  for  souls.  If  one  scheme  fails,  love  devises 
another,  till  it  accomplishes  its  object — but  I  seem 
to  do  nothing  for  Christ  and  souls  now.  I  am 
obliged  to  resolve  all  my  difficulties  into  this  ap- 
peal, '  Lord,  thou  knowest  all  things,  thou  knowest 
that  I  love  thee.'  " 

On  the  evening  of  February  24th,  she  fell  asleep 
on  the  sofa,  but  was  continually  awaked  by  the 
cough.  Upon  being  suddenly  aroused  by  a  dis- 
tressing fit,  she  said,  "  Is  it  not  strange,  that  no 
sooner  do  I  drop  asleep  than  the  cough  awakes 
me ;"  but  added  cheerfully,  "  it  is  only  a  trial  of 
patience — I  sometimes  think  my  patience  is  not 
exercised,  but  the  poor  body  does  need  it  some- 
times." To  a  request  that  she  would  not  destroy 
the  notes  of  her  class  subjects,  as  she  wished,  and 
as  she  had  almost  all  her  other  papers,  she  replied, 
"  Oh,  they  are  so  defective,  they  contain  little  ex- 
planation of  the  great  doctrines  of  the  gospel — a 
reference  and  a  hint  were  quite  enough  for  me  as  a 
guide  while  speaking  ;  my  heart  was  so  full  of  them, 
I  knew  I  should  not  forget  them — but  I  should  not 
like  my  children,  when  they  grow  up,  to  think  they 
were  omitted  by  me.  It  is  not  the  gospel  if  they 
are  left  out — it  may  be  truth,  but  not  '  the  truth  as 
it  is  in  Jesus' — not  '  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  to  all 
people.'  Usefulness  to  souls,  which  consists  in 
biassing  the  mind  of  the  hearer  to  heavenly  things, 
so  that  they  become  natural  to  him,  will  never  be 
effected  but  by  the  motives,  doctrines,  and  in- 
34 


398 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


fluences  of  the  gospel.  This  I  conceive  is  what 
Christ  means,  when  He  says,  '  Sanctify  them 
through  thy  truth,  thy  word  is  truth.'  " 

February  25th  was  a  day  of  extreme  suffering — 
but  during  an  interval  of  ease,  her  husband  ut- 
tered a  few  words  on  Christ,  as  the  way  to  the 
Father,  and  how  safely  and  cheerfully  afflicted 
spirits  might  take  advantage  of  that  appointed  ac- 
cess. "Yes,"  she  replied,  "Old  Berridge  just 
describes  my  feelings  on  that  very  subject — 

'Of  Christ  I  chirp  and  sing, 

And  when  He  casts  an  eye, 
I  flutter  up  with  brisker  wing, 

And  warble  in  the  sky. 

Such  is  my  pleasant  task, 

To  sing  of  this  sweet  road  ; 
And  if  the  cause  a  stranger  ask, 

It  is  my  way  to  God.'  " 

When  laid  down  for  rest  at  night,  being  asked  what 
chapter  she  would  like  read,  she  whispered  with 
all  her  remaining  strength,  "  one  of  the  beautiful 
psalms  of  praise." 

March  2nd. — Her  exhaustion  was  so  great,  that 
she  thought  death  was  approaching.  The  next  day, 
when  a  little  recovered,  she  said,  "  I  thought  it 
surely  must  be  death ;  it  was  a  solemn  moment — a 
.solemn  moment  indeed,  but  I  was  not  agitated  :  I 
felt  even  then,  that  I  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  com- 
mit myself  to  Christ,  and  it  seemed  quite  easy  and 
natural  to  do  so."  When  a  little  refreshed  by 
sleep,  she  began  speaking  of  the  illness  from  which 
her  husband  was  at  that  time  suffering.  "  It  is 
such  an  unexpected  trial,  however,  I  must  roll  that 
on  the  Lord."  Being  reminded  of  the  command, 
"  In  every  thing  by  prayer  and  supplication,  with 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


399 


thanksgiving,  let  your  requests  be  made  known 
unto  God,"  she  replied,  "  Thanksgiving  seems  even 
more  congenial  to  me,  or  perhaps  I  should  say, 
more  spontaneous,  than  prayer ;  I  feel  it  specially 
on  first  waking.  Just  now,  when  I  awoke,  my 
heart  seemed  to  go  forth  in  praise,  and  I  felt  such 
confidence  in  God,  when  I  thought  of  my  dear  hus- 
band's illness." 

The  next  evening,  her  husband  repeated  a  hymn 
which  he  had  seen  in  the  collection  of  the  Rev.  J. 
Gauntlett.  On  hearing  it,  she  remarked,  "That  is 
sweetness  itself — the  most  comprehensive  hymn  I 
ever  heard  for  a  dying  Christian.  You  must  re- 
peat it  to  me  till  I  can  go  through  it  without  a  mis- 
take ;"  after  a  third  repetition,  she  mastered  the 
four  verses,  and  almost  every  day,  till  her  death, 
quoted  the  whole,  or  some  verse.  The  hymn  is  as 
follows : — 

"  What  is  it  for  a  saint  to  die, 
That  we  the  thought  should  fear? 

'T  is  but  to  pass  the  heavenly  sky, 
And  leave  pollution  here. 

True,  Jordan's  stream  is  wondrous  deep, 

And  Canaan's  walls  are  high  ; 
But  He  that  guards  us  while  we  sleep, 

Will*  guide  us  when  we  die. 

A  parting  world,  a  gaping  tomb. 

Corruption  and  disease, 
Are  thorny  paths  to  heaven,  our  home, 

And  doors  to  endless  bliss  ! 

Eternal  glory  just  before, 

And  Jesus  waiting  there ; 
A  heavenly  gale  to  waft  us  o'er — 

What  have  the  saints  to  fear  ?" 

*  The  word  in  the  original  hymn  is  "  can,"  but  she  always 
used  "  will,"  and  corrected  others  when  they  repeated  "can." 


400 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


It  was  found  necessary,  for  the  last  three  or  four 
months,  to  administer  an  opiate  ahnost  daily,  to 
procure  rest  at  night,  and  she  sometimes  expressed 
a  fear  lest  it  should  occasion  her  mind  to  wander : 
"  Should  I  become  irritable,  or  be  permitted  to  say 
any  thing  inconsistent  with  the  Christian  profession, 
1  hope  all  who  know  me  will  remember  it  is  an  in- 
firmity, the  effect  of  disease  or  medicine.  Entreat 
my  friends  to  pray,  that  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  my 
intellect  may  be  preserved  unclouded  to  the  last." 
Her  desire  was  fully  granted,  for  just  at  this  time 
God  was  pleased  to  direct  her  friends  to  Dr.  Maclean, 
of  Montague  Square,  who,  in  conjunction  with  her 
ordinary  medical  attendant,  Mr.  Newth,  so  judi- 
«^iously  administered  the  necessary  opiates,  and  so 
carefully  watched  their  operation,  that,  while  un- 
expected relief  was  often  obtained,  the  dreaded 
evil  was  never  experienced.  She  frequently  said 
how  deeply  she  was  indebted  to  her  physician  for 
his  skill  and  kindness,  and  how  earnestly  she  would 
have  recommended  him  to  others  in  similar  circum- 
stances, had  her  life  been  spared. 

As  she  had  for  several  months  been  denied  the 
privilege  of  partaking  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  she 
wished  to  have  it  administered  to  her  privately,  in 
communion  with  her  own  family  and  a  few  chosen 
friends ;  but  in  so  large  and  affectionate  a  circle,  it 
was  found  difficult  to  reduce  the  number  sufficient- 
ly, as  she  was  xmable  to  bear  the  excitement  of  a 
large  assembly.  It  was  therefore  determined  to 
confine  the  little  company  to  the  members  of  her 
family,  the  elders  of  the  church,  the  Rev.  J.  S. 
Eastmead,  and  the  kind  friend  who  had  undertaken 
her  young  ladies'  class.  On  March  16th,  they 
assembled  in  the  study,  where  she  lay  on  a  couch, 
and  the  visitors,  seventeen  in  number,  sat  around 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.  SHERMAN. 


401 


the  room.  That  "  upper  room,"  no  one  who  was 
present  will  ever  forget.  She  had  often  expressed 
a  desire  to  "hear  that  sweet  hymn  sung  once 
more" — 

"  There  is  a  happy  land,  far,  far,  away, 

Where  saints  in  glory  stand,  bright,  bright  as  day. 

Oh !  how  they  sweetly  sing,  Worthy  is  our  Savior  King, 

Loud  let  his  praises  ring,  praise,  praise,  for  aye. 

Come  to  this  happy  land,  come,  come,  away ; 

Why  will  ye  doubting  stand,  why  still  delay? 

Oh  !  we  shall  happy  be,  when  from  sin  and  sorrow  free, 

Lord  we  shall  live  with  thee,  blest,  blest  for  aye. 

Bright  in  that  happy  land  beams  every  eye,— 
Kept  by  a  Father's  hand,  love  cannot  die. 
On  then  to  glory  run,  be  a  crown  and  kingdom  won, 
And  bright  above  the  sun,  reign,  reign,  for  aye." 

It  was  therefore  suggested  that  some  of  the  chil- 
dren from  the  Infant  School  should  sing  it,  before 
the  commencement  of  the  sacramental  service. 
They  were  placed  in  an  adjoining  room,  whence 
their  infantine  voices,  softened  by  distance,  and 
subdued  by  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  cheered 
without  exciting  the  spirit  of  the  precious  invalid, 
so  soon  about  to  enter  that  "  happy  land,"  of  which 
they  so  sweetly  sung. 

The  address  of  dear  Mr.  Clayton,  and  his  mode 
of  conducting  the  whole  service,  were  peculiarly 
appropriate,  edifying,  and  affecting,  and  the  de- 
light she  experienced,  from  the  refreshment  of  soul, 
and  the  sensible  enjoyment  of  her  Savior's  presence 
at  the  celebration  of  this  feast  of  love,  was  much 
increased  by  the  addition  to  the  number  of  its 
guests,  for  the  first  time,  of  two  of  her  servants, 
one  of  whom  attributed  her  decision,  to  the  exhibi- 
tion of  the  power  of  religion  to  sustain  and  cheer 
in  the  hour  of  sickness,  which  she  had  witnessed 
34* 


402 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


in  her  beloved  mistress.  When  asked  what  ar- 
rangement she  wished  to  be  made,  she  answered, 
"  Let  that  be  left  to  Mr.  Clayton,  but  there  are 
two  parts  of  the  communion  service  which  I  should 
like  to  hear  again ;  the  prayer  commencing  '  We 
do  not  presume  to  come  to  this  thy  table  trusting 
in  our  own  righteousness ;'  and  the  anthems,  be- 
ginning '  Therefore  with  angels  and  archangels, 
and  with  all  the  company  of  heaven,'  and  '  Glory 
be  to  God  on  high,' "  &c.,  she  added,  "I  hope  all 
will  join — /  will,  if  I  am  able,"  and  this  she  did  in 
as  audible  a  whisper  as  her  weakness  would  allow. 
Her  countenance  was  lightened  with  the  sunshine 
of  heaven,  and  she  seemed  (as  she  said  after  the 
service  concluded,)  as  though  she  was  but  echoing 
the  joyous  notes  of  the  angels  and  the  spirits  of  the 
just  made  perfect.  After  a  collection  had  been 
made  in  the  room  by  her  special  request  for  the 
Lord's  poor,  which  amounted  to  about  twelve 
pounds,  to  be  afterwards  distributed  by  the  elders 
among  some  objects  which  she  especially  selected — 
the  little  company  separated  to  meet  no  more 
imitedly  till  they  sat  down  at  the  marriage-supper 
of  the  Lamb. 

March  ISth. — One  of  her  young  friends  who 
came  to  take  leave  of  her,  expecting  only  to  shake 
hands  without  speaking,  being  suprised  to  find  her 
looking  so  cheerful  and  animated,  said,  "  I  am  glad 
to  see  you  so  well."  The  dear  invalid  answered 
with  a  smile — 


the  notes  of  the  morning  sermon,  on  2  Sam.  xxiii. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


403 


read,  she  remarked,  "  Yes,  I  know  the  covenant  is 
sure,  and  it  is  sure  to  me,  and  though  I  cannot 
always  rcaUze  it,  that  does  not  alter  its  security. 
All  these  glorious  things  seem  to  carnal  reason  a 
dream,  but  they  are  not ;  I  feel  them  to  be  heavenly 
realities." 

March  26th. — The  symptoms  were  very  alarm- 
ing, and  immediate  danger  was  apprehended,  but 
towards  evening  she  revived,  and  was  cheerful  as 
usual.  When  the  family  were  at  chapel  she  said, 
"I  wonder  whether  I  shall  be  here  next  Sunday. 
I  am  come  to  this  point  now — anticipation  ;  when- 
ever the  message  comes  it  will  be  welcome.  The 
pins  of  the  tabernacle  must  be  taken  out,  and  they 
are  being  removed  very  gently ;  how  I  shall  re- 
joice when  the  last  is  pulled  up  and  the  tabernacle 
falls."  Her  friend  replied,  "  What  a  blessing  to 
meet  the  last  enemy  without  fear."  She  imme- 
diately said,  with  great  composure,  "  I  have  no  fear, 
he  is  not  an  enemy,  at  least  he  has  no  power  to 
hurt  me."  A  friend  remarking,  "Well,  there  is 
not  much  to  live  for,"  with  quickness  she  observed, 
"  Oh,  but  I  have  much  to  live  for.  I  have  no  sym- 
pathy with  those  who  talk  thus.  I  suppose  I  have 
had  fewer  crooks  than  they  ;  my  path  has  been  such 
an  unusually  happy  one ;  but  should  it  not  be  a  Chris- 
tian's desire,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  to  live,  and 
glorify  him  by  the  spread  of  his  truth  ?  Since  I 
have  felt  there  was  no  hope  of  recovery,  I  have 
been  wonderfully  relieved  from  anxiety  respecting 
the  dear  ones  left  behind.  I  cannot  suffer  myself 
to  think  much  about  them,  but  I  know  that  He  to 
whom  I  have  committed  my  soul,  will  take  care  of 
them.  .  My  early  removal  is  indeed  a  blight  upon 
all  our  plans — is  it  not  ?  I  may  say,  '  I  am  cut  off  in 
the  midst  of  my  days,'  we  were  so  happy."  Thus 


404 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


showing  that  her  composure  did  not  arise  from  in- 
sensibility. 

Jipril  Vdth. — An  old  friend  and  former  play- 
fellow called  to  take  leave  of  her ;  in  childhood 
and  youth  they  had  spent  many,  many  happy  days 
together,  and  the  sight  of  him  filled  her  eyes  with 
tears;  but  she  soon  recovered,  and  said,  "Oh, 

J  ,  tears  are  not  often  seen  in  my  eyes,  but  I 

am  so  weak  in  body  and  mind  now,  I  am  scarcely 
able  to  speak  to  you ;  but  I  shall  soon  be  where 
my  tongue  will  be  unloosed,  and  I  shall  serve  my 
God  without  weakness,  either  of  soul  or  body. 
Mind — be  sure  you  meet  me  there."  Then,  giving 
him  "  Christ  on  the  Cross,"  as  a  parting  memorial, 
she  added,  "  The  Cross  of  Christ  is  all  my  support 
and  hope.  Oh,  that  I  had  a  tongue  to  urge  all  to 
seek  refuge  there !  Is  it  not  a  comfort  to  feel  the 
sting  of  death  removed  ?"  The  intelligent  and 
manly  traveller  whom  she  thus  pointedly  addressed, 
was  quite  overcome,  giving  evidence  by  his  emo- 
tion, that  neither  her  words  nor  manner  of  uttering 
them  had  been  lost  on  him.  May  all  her  wishes 
be  realized.  When  he  was  gone  she  said,  "I  did 
not  convey  half  my  meaning — I  wanted  to  exalt 
my  Master  more."  She  usually  dropped  a  word 
in  season  to  each  of  her  visitors  and  attendants,  and 
when  unable  to  do  so,  it  was  one  of  her  greatest 
crosses.  "  I  know,"  she  said,  "  I  can  say  little 
worth  being  remembered,  but  a  word  which  at  an- 
other time  might  be  thought  little  of,  spoken  by 
one  under  my  circumstances,  may  make  an  impres- 
pression  and  be  remembered  hereafter." 

21st. — Was  Good  Friday ;  when  she  awoke,  per- 
ceiving her  nurse  standing  by  her  bedside,  she  said, 
"  Ah  !  this  is  a  memorable  day — our  blessed  Savior 
was  crucified  for  us  on  this  day.    By  His  death  He 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


405 


has  taken  away  the  sting  of  death  from  me,  and 
now  it  is  a  pleasure  to  look  forward  to  it."  She 
asked  one,  who  had  not  seen  her  for  several  days, 
if  she  saw  any  alteration  in  her,  receiving  for  an- 
swer, she  did  not ;  with  a  very  significant  nod  and 
smile,  she  replied,  "  there  is  a  very  material  altera- 
tion, I  am  so  many  days  nearer  home." 

27th. — This,  being  a  day  of  increased  pain  and 
weariness,  there  was  an  expression  of  distress  on  her 
usually  placid  countenance  which  was  very  affect- 
ing to  witness.  A  promise  being  whispered  to  her, 
immediately  a  sweet  smile  (the  only  sign  of  plea- 
sure she  was  able  to  give)  confirmed  the  beautiful 
sentiment  of  Cowper  : — 

"  How  sweet  the  name  of  Jesus  sounds 
In  a  believer's  ear." 

On  her  friend  expressing  a  wish  that  some  resting- 
place  could  be  contrived  for  her  back,  as  she  sat 
up  wearied  on  the  sofa,  afraid  to  lie  down,  on  ac- 
count of  the  irritation  of  the  cough,  she  replied, 
"  I  shall  soon  have  one,"  and  then  looking  up  joy- 
fully asked,  evidently  hoping  to  be  answered  in  the 
affirmative — "  Do  you  not  think  I  am  sinking 
now  ?" 

2Sth. — She  had  often  said,  that  the  time  which 
she  most  enjoyed  was  just  before  going  to  sleep, 
when  the  cough  which  was  usually  very  trouble- 
some, after  first  lying  down  in  bed,  was  beginning 
to  subside  a  little  ;  but  this  afternoon  she  called  her 
friend  to  her,  and  said,  "  I  have  had  such  a  de- 
lightful time  for  thinking,  so  unusual  during  the 
day.  My  communion  with  my  Lord,  was  sweet 
indeed.  Who  says  that  religion  is  not  a  reality? 
Oh,  if  they  had  enjoyed  the  precious  promises  of 
God,  the  assurance  of  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  and 


406  THE  pastor's  wife  ;  or 

the  certainty  of  dwelling  for  ever  in  a  house  not 
made  wnth  hands  eternal  in  the  heavens,  because 
purchased  by  my  Redeemer's  blood,  and  prepared 
by  his  glorious  residence — as  I  have  done  this  day, 
they  would  say  as  I  can,  '  that  which  we  have  seen 
with  our  eyes,  and  our  hands  have  handled,  declare 
we  unto  you.'  I  must  say  I  was  glad  to  hear 
that  the  expectoration  was  unfavorable,  because  I 
know  it  is  a  sign  that  the  end  is  near.  Do  you 
think  it  is  wrong  to  feel  so?  I  have  been  ex- 
amining, and  I  do  not  think  it  is.  Oh,  the  thought 
of  being  soon  freed  from  sin — it  is  too  much — too 
overpowering.  I  do  not  think  I  wish  death,  to  be 
released  from  suffering ;  though  the  flesh  will  shrink 
from  that." 

29<A. — Was  a  day  in  which  extreme  weakness 
was  experienced.  When  she  heard  the  voice  of 
her  youngest  child,  she  called  her,  and  had  her 
placed  for  a  moment  on  her  knees.  Looking  at 
her  with  inexpressible  tenderness,  she  said,  "Mam- 
ma is  going  to  heaven — will  my  precious  child 
meet  me  there?"  The  dear  little  creature  replied 
with  energy,  "Yes,  mamma,"  the  answer  awoke 
strong  emotion,  and  prevented  her  from  sayijig 
more. 

May  10th. — The  Annual  Sermon  for  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  was  preached  at  Surrey  Chapel, 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Candlish.  When  her  fiiend  went 
to  her  in  the  morning,  she  w^as  much  exhausted 
for  want  of  rest ;  after  a  little  refreshing  sleep,  she 
said,  "  Read  me  about  the  covenant  with  Abraham 
and  his  seed,  that  I  may  feel  encouraged  about 
my  precious  children" — "Yes,  there  is  my  hope, 
'  I  will  be  a  God  to  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  after 
thee.'  Surely,  He  has  been  a  God  to  me  ! — W^ho, 
but  He  could  have  borne  with  me  and  helped  me 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


407 


ti"l  now — I  will  trust  him  for  mine."  When  that 
text  was  repeated,  "  Though  I  walk  through  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil, 
for  thou  art  with  me,  thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they 
comfort  me,"  she  whispered  something,  which  her 
friend  thought  was  asking  for  a  hymn,  and  went 
to  fetch  the  book  ;  but  she  repeated  in  a  loud  whis- 
per, striking  the  bed  to  intimate  a  feeling  she  was 
unable  to  express — "  He  never  will  forsake  me." 
In  the  course  of  the  morning,  Toplady's  hymn  was 
i-ead,  beginning,  "When  languor  and  disease  in- 
vade," &c.    On  coming  to  that  verse : 


She  said,  "  Ah !  angels  carried  Rowland  Hill's 
spirit  from  this  room.  Will  it  not  be  an  honor  to 
be  escorted  into  my  Savior's  presence  from  the 
same  spot  ?" 

After  the  service,  she  expressed  a  wish,  "  to 
see  dear  Mr.  James,  of  Birmingham,  he  was  the 


Chapel,  his  piety  has  always  appeared  to  me  very 
eminent,  and  God  has  signally  owned  his  treatises, 
which  have  but  one  object,  the  winning  of  souls  to 
our  Divine  Lord.  I  should  like  to  shake  him  by 
the  hand  and  hear  his  sanctified  voice  in  prayer, 
before  I  meet  him  in  heaven."  Mr.  James  came 
in,  and  thus  describes  his  impressions. 

"  The  interview  which  I  was  privileged  myself 
to  hold  with  Mrs.  Sherman,  about  a  week  before 
her  dismissal,  was  a  scene  to  which  I  recollect  no 
parallel,  and  which  it  is  quite  impossible  for  me 
either  to  forget  or  describe.    Her  countenance, 


"  Sweet  to  rejoice  in  lively  hope, 
That  when  my  change  shall  come, 

Angels  will  bear  my  spirit  up 
To  my  eternal  home." 


instrument 


husband  to  Surrey 


408 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


beautiful  even  in  death,  was  lighted  up  with  a 
smile,  that  looked  rather  like  the  joy  which  we  can 
conceive  illuminates  the  soul  emerging  from  the 
cold  stream  of  death,  as  a  dreaded  event  that  was 
over,  than  of  one  who  was  looking  forward  to  it, 
as  just  at  hand.  It  was  not  only  a  smile  in  death, 
but  it  was  a  smile  at  death.  It  was  the  morning 
of  the  Missionary  Sermon  in  this  place ;  when  she 
could  hear  the  sound  of  the  organ,  and  the  chorus 
of  praise  rising  from  the  congregated  host,  and 
which  in  by-gone  times  she  had  helped  to  swell ; 
she  could  hear  the  hum  of  voices,  and  the  sounds 
of  recognition  and  gratulation  beneath  her  window, 
of  the  tribes  that  had  come  up  to  Zion ;  and  there 
was  she,  in  the  chamber  of  sickness,  on  the  bed  of 
death,  contrasting  her  situation  with  the  gladsome 
circumstances  of  multitudes  in  all  the  vigor  of  life 
and  the  joyousness  of  health.  If  a  momentary 
cloud,  a  passing  gloom,  had  come  over  the  spirit 
from  such  a  contrast,  who  could  have  wondered  ? 
yea,  who  does  not  wonder  that  it  did  not?  But  it 
did  not.  The  Sun  of  Righteousness  in  cloudless 
splendor  shone  upon  her  soul,  which  reflected  his 
beams,  in  that — I  repeat — most  heavenly  smile  that 
I  ever  saw  upon  the  countenance  of  any  human  be- 
ing in  life  or  death.  She  seemed  standing  within 
the  precincts  of  glory  ;  and  the  only  thing  that  re- 
minded me  of  mortality,  was  the  wasted  form,  and 
the  natural  tear  she  dropt — but  wiped  it  soon — 
which,  though  it  glistened  in  her  eye,  still  spark- 
ling, did  not  for  a  moment  interrupt  the  ineffable 
joy.  I  felt — yea,  I  said  to  her,  'If  this  be  dying, 
who  would  not  lie  down,  and  die  with  you,  if  they 
could  die  like  you  ?'  She  would  have  talked,  if  the 
strength  of  her  body  had  been  equal  to  the  vigor  of 
her  soul ;  but  every  syllabic  she  uttered  was  de- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


409 


scriptive  of  a  '  peace  that  passeth  understanding,'  a 
'joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.'  Could  such  a 
scene  as  that  be  witnessed  in  public — as  it  must  be 
witnessed  to  be  kno^vn,  for  no  words  can  describe 
it — Christianity  would,  one  should  suppose,  then 
appear  to  all  men  a  Divine  reality,  a  heavenly 
plant,  an  eternal  substance,  and  no  man  would  have 
power  or  heart,  except  he  were  a  demon,  to  say 
aught  against  it.  Before  that  scene,  the  loftiest 
philosopher  must  be  humbled,  infidehty  turn  pale 
and  silent,  and  folly  and  vice,  for  a  brief  season, 
become  serious,  and  disposed  to  say,  '  Let  me  die 
the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be 
like  hers.' " 

May  l^th. — One  of  the  elders  who  visited  her, 
stated  that  he  could  never  forget  the  peculiar  and 
inexpressible  unction  which  accompanied  the  few 
sentences  she  was  enabled  to  utter,  which  gave  him 
the  impression  that  heaven  had  indeed  come  down 
to  her,  and  that  she  could  not  be  far  from  it.  One, 
he  particularly  records ; — looking  at  him,  as  Mr. 
James  describes — she  said,  "  I  am  now  lying  at  the 
foot  of  His  cross,  I  shall  soon  stand  before  His 
throne."  A  cloud,  though  a  bright  one,  seemed  in 
the  evening  to  rest  upon  her  spirit — she  was  how- 
ever able  to  converse  with  her  husband  ;  but  how 
can  he  describe  the  interview — she  was  the  com- 
forter, and  he  the  mourner.  Her  tongue  dropped 
sentences  like  sweet-smelling  myrrh  to  his  afflicted 
spirit — her  faith  grasped  the  promises ;  and  twice 
or  thrice,  adapting  the  action  to  the  metaphor,  she 
put  some  of  them,  which  she  repeated,  into  his 
hands,  as  a  wife's  legacy — "  the  words  of  a  living 
and  faithful  God."  Then  looking  forward  to  the 
"rising  growth"  of  her  children — she  described 
Christ  as  taking  first  the  eldest,  and  guiding  her  as 


410 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE*,  OR 


a  lamb  into  his  fold — saw  her  useful  in  teaching 
and  gathering  others  to  her  Savior :  then  the  little 
one,  who,  by  her  docility  and  tenderness  during  her 
affliction,  had  greatly  endeared  herself  to  her  mo- 
ther's heart,  following  her  sister  in  the  same  happy 
course,  "  blessed  and  a  blessing."  A  pause  en- 
sued— she  appeared  full  of  thought — the  tears 
gushed  from  her  eyes,  and  in  tones  of  tenderest 
sympathy,  she  exclaimed,  "  O  God !  my  son,  my 
son — convert,  save  my  son!" 

Recovering  herself  and  resuming  her  heavenly 
smile,  she  took  her  husband's  hand,  saying,  "  Thir- 
teen years  of  more  bliss  has  been  granted  to  us 
than  ordinarily  falls  to  the  lot  of  most,  even  of  the 
children  of  God ;  we  have  had  much  to  do  for 
Christ,  and  that  has  made  us  happy ;  we  have 
talked  of  His  grace,  united  in  His  ordinances,  and 
loved  His  service ;  my  work,  feeble  as  it  has  been, 
is  done  ;  but  yours — the  Lord  lengthen  your  term 
of  labor,  for  the  sake  of  my  babes ! — may  be  ex- 
tensive. Forgive  a  wife,  if  with  her  dying  breath, 
she  say,  preach  Christ  and  his  salvation  more  fully, 
more  conspicuously,  more  feelingly  than  ever.  It 
has  been,  I  know,  your  aim  to  exalt  him  all  your 
life ;  but  let  your  remaining  efforts  in  the  pulpit 
extol  him  and  make  him  very  high.  I  am  sure  I 
am  very  near  death,  and  fearing  I  may  not  be  able 
to  speak  when  he  comes,  it  has  comforted  me  to 
tell  you  my  heart.  Do  not  weep — cheer  up ; 
Christ  your  Master  will  give  you  strength  and 
grace,  and  we  shall  meet  after  a  few  short  years 
to  dwell  in  the  full  blaze  of  glory  and  immortality." 

May  15th. — The  Members  of  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society  met  at  Surrey  Chapel,  to  celebrate 
the  death  of  Christ  by  partaking  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per ;  after  the  service,  the  Rev.  D.  .J.  Smith,  of 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


411 


Dublin,  prayed  with  her,  but  her  exhaustion  was 
so  great  that  she  lay  apparently  unconscious  to  all 
around.  About  an  hour  afterwards,  the  Rev. 
James  Parsons,  of  York,  saw  her ;  she  had  by  that 
time  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  whisper  a  few 
words  in  answer  to  questions  which  he  proposed, 
and  to  attend  to  the  petitions  which  he  kindly  of- 
fered. The  next  day  she  said,  "  the  last  hymn 
which  they  sang  in  the  Chapel  reminded  me  how 
they  were  engaged,  and  I  felt  I  could  join  in  spirit 
with  them.  Afterwards  such  joy  was  diffused 
through  my  soul  that  I  cannot  describe  the  sensa- 
tion it  produced.  I  seemed  to  be  holding  commu- 
nion with  a  dear  friend,  whom  I  had  not  seen  for 
some  time,  and  the  moments  were  so  precious  that 
even  the  presence  of  those  good  men  was,  at  first, 
an  interruption."  Being  told  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Smith  concluded  the  service  with  a  very  impressive 
prayer,  in  which  she  was  specially  mentioned,  she 
replied,  "  Was  not  the  joy  I  felt  at  that  very  time, 
an  immediate  answer  to  that  prayer  ?  That  pro- 
mise was  fulfilled  in  this  instance.  While  they  are 
yet  speaking,  I  will  hear." 

On  the  17th  of  May,  it  was  evident  that  death 
was  approaching,  but  to  the  surprise  of  all,  she 
rallied  again,  and  slept  tolerably  well  during  the 
night. 

About  twelve  o'clock,  on  the  18th,  no  doubt 
could  remain  what  the  result  must  soon  be.  The 
first  intimation  of  the  actual  approach  of  death, 
was  given  by  the  precious  invalid  herself.  She 
took  the  hand  of  the  nurse,  smiled,  and  shook  it, 
and  beckoned  the  cook  to  come  and  receive  the 
same  token  of  affection.  Then  looking  round  for 
the  housemaid,  in  whom  for  four  years  she  had 
taken  the  deepest  interest,  she  grasped  her  hand 


412  THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 

when  she  entered  the  room  with  great  emotion, 
and  pointed  upwards.  The  struggle  for  breath, 
the  excessive  pain  in  the  side,  and  the  convulsive 
agony  of  the  whole  frame  were  fearful ;  but  the 
celestial  joy  within,  surpassed  the  expectations  of 
all  the  family,  every  member  of  which  was  present, 
except  her  venerable  father.  To  the  last,  her  in- 
tellect was  unimpaired,  and  her  speech  sufficiently 
loud  to  be  heard.  The  hour  of  death  is  always 
solemn — it  was  specially  felt  to  be  so  on  this  oc- 
casion ;  and  the  fear  was,  lest  any  intrusive  con- 
versation should  interrupt  the  communion,  which  it 
was  evident  her  sanctified  spirit  was  holding  with 
her  Redeemer.  None  doubted  her  safety,  if  she 
had  not  uttered  a  word,  yet  for  the  conviction  of 
some,  and  the  comfort  of  all,  a  few  questions  at 
intervals  were  put,  the  answers  to  which  showed 
the  stability  of  her  hope.  "  The  long  looked-for 
hour  is  come,  my  dear,"  said  her  husband.  "It 
is,"  she  replied,  "blessed  be  my  Savior!"  "You 
have  long  professed  that  Christ  was  precious — is 
He  precious  to  you  now  ?"  Lifting  up  her  almost 
fleshless  arms  and  hands,  like  the  wings  of  a  bird 
ready  to  fly,  she  let  them  fall  on  the  bed,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  Infinitely,  infinitely  !"  "  Have  you,  my 
precious  one,  any  consciousness  of  the  immediate 
presence  of  Jesus  Christ  ?"  Pausing  for  a  moment, 
she  replied,  "  No ;  I  do  not  know  what  that  is — 
my  consciousness  is  the  consciousness  of  faith.  I 
know  that  He  is  with  me,  by  the  support  and  inef- 
fable consolations  He  pours  into  my  soul ;  but  I 
shall  soon  know  what  it  is,  for  I  shall  be  with 
Him,  and  be  like  him."  "  Then,  like  David,  you 
can  say  you  fear  no  evil  in  the  dark  valley."  She 
replied,  "  The  valley  is  very  long,  but  not  dark — 
for  He  is  with  me  in  it — His  rod  and  His  staff  com- 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.  SHERMAN. 


41'5 


fort  me  !"  "  Then  you  can  bear  testimony  to  your 
children,  that  a  life  spent  in  the  service  of  God  is 
a  most  pleasant  and  profitable  life  ?"  As  if  making 
an  effort  beyond  her  strength  to  say  something 
which  her  heart  dictated,  but  finding  it  impossible, 
she  again  raised  her  arms  as  before,  and  replied 
with  energy,  "  /  can  I  I  can  ."'  "  What  now, 
when  earth  is  vanishing,  is  your  sole  dependence  for 
acceptance  with  God,  at  the  great  day?"  "Only 
the  perfect  and  finished  righteousness  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ : 

'  Nothing  in  my  hand  I  bring. 
Simply  to  the  Cross  I  cling.'  " 

Many  other  precious  words  and  sentences  fell 
from  her  lips ;  but  these  will  suffice  to  show  the 
fullness  of  her  joy,  and  what  an  abundant  entrance 
was  given  her  into  the  kingdom  of  her  God  and 
Savior.  At  a  little  after  three  o'clock,  she  re- 
quested to  be  left  with  the  servants,  but  in  a  few 
minutes  the  family  were  summoned  to  witness  the 
last  convulsive  struggle  with  the  enemy,  which  had 
just  commenced,  and  at  twenty  minutes  to  four 
o'clock,  on  Thursday  afternoon,  May  18th,  1848, 
in  the  42d  year  of  her  age,  she  fell  asleep  in  Jesus. 

Although  the  painful  event  had  been  long  ex- 
pected, its  announcement  produced  general  and 
sincere  sorrow  throughout  the  congregation  and 
neighborhood,  and  to  a  large  circle  of  friends,  who 
evinced  the  tenderest  sympathy  for  her  bereaved 
husband  and  family.  The  funeral  was  appointed 
to  take  place  on  Thursday,  May  25th,  at  Abney- 
park  Cemetery,  where  the  family  vault  is  situated, 
and  in  which  the  remains  of  her  beloved  mother  are 
deposited.  A  large  number  of  persons,  especially 
of  the  poor,  assembled  in  the  chapel-yard  to  wit- 
35* 


414 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


ness  the  departure  of  the  mournful  procession, 
which  left  the  parsonage  at  eleven  o'clock.  The 
hearse  was  followed  by  twelve  mourning  coaches, 
which  contained  the  relatives  of  the  deceased,  the 
officiating  ministers,  the  trustees,  the  elders  of  the 
church,  and  many  of  the  most  devoted  friends  con- 
nected with  the  congregation,  next  to  these  were 
four  private  carriages,  sent  by  their  owners,  to  show 
their  affectionate  esteem  for  the  pastor's  wife,  in 
which  were  seated  her  children,  a  few  female 
friends,  and  the  servants  of  the  family.  As  a  mark 
of  respect,  many  shops  in  the  line  of  the  cavalcade 
were  closed,  and  tears  were  dropped  from  many 
spectators  who  had  once  witnessed  her  devoted 
zeal,  or  received  help  from  her  kind  hand.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  body  at  its  earthly  resting-place,  the 
scene  was  peculiarly  affecting :  the  poor  women  of 
the  Maternal  Association,  over  which  the  departed 
saint  had  presided,  and  the  young  people  of  her 
classes  dressed  in  respectful  mourning,  lined  the 
pathway  to  the  Cemetery  chapel,  deeply  sorrowing 
that  they  should  see  her  face  no  more.  Friends 
from  the  congregation  and  from  various  parts, 
amounting  it  was  computed  to  not  fewer  than  2000 
persons,  assembled  in  the  Cemetery,  to  show  by 
their  presence  and  habiliments,  a  last  token  of  af- 
fectionate regard.  When  the  body  was  placed  in 
the  Cemetery  chapel,  the  children  of  the  School  of 
Industry  surrounded  the  earthly  remains  of  their 
treasurer,  and  showed  by  their  youthful  sorrow, 
that  they  felt  they  had  lost  a  friend.  The  Rev.  S. 
A.  Davies,  of  Enfield,  Mrs.  Sherman's  former  pas- 
tor, commenced  the  solemn  service  by  reading  part 
of  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  the  first  of  Corinthians, 
and  the  ninetieth  Psalm,  and  after  the  congregation 
had  sung  the  suitable  hymn  of  Dr.  Watts,  begin- 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  415 

ning  "Why  do  we  mourn  departing  friends,"  he 
sought  by  prayer  the  benediction  of  heaven  on  the 
weeping  assembly.  The  Rev.  George  Clayton,  in 
compliance  with  the  wish  of  the  deceased,  then  de- 
livered a  most  solemn  and  appropriate  oration,  ap- 
plying the  event  by  sanctified  eloquence  to  the 
consciences  of  all  present,  and,  it  is  believed  pro- 
duced impressions  time  will  never  efface.  When 
the  body  was  conveyed  from  the  chapel  to  the 
tomb,  the  elders  of  the  church  bore  the  pall,  and  as 
the  procession  slowly  advanced,  the  gentlemen  of 
the  choir,  the  children  of  the  school,  and  the  con- 
gregation sung  the  hymn  of  Dr.  Watts  beginning, 

"  Unveil  thy  bosom,  faithful  tomb, 
Take  this  new  treasure  to  thy  trust,"  &c. 

Arrived  at  the  place  of  sepulture,  the  funeral  ser- 
vice of  the  Church  of  England  was  read  by  the 
Rev.  J.  S.  Eastmead,  and  the  benediction  pro- 
nounced by  the  Rev.  George  Clayton.  The  whole 
assembly  closed  the  solemn  service  by  attempting 
to  sing — which  was  accomplished  with  difficulty — 
the  two  following  verses : 

"  Farewell,  dear  saint,  a  short  adieu ! 
Thy  soul  is  gone  beyond  the  spheres ; 
Our  eyes  thy  radiant  path  pursue, 
While  rapture  glistens  in  our  tears. 

Farewell,  blest  saint,  a  short  farewell, 
Till  soon  we  meet  again  above, 
In  the  bright  world  where  pleasures  dwell, 
And  trees  of  life  bear  fruits  of  love." 

"  The  whole  scene,"  remarks  a  friend,  "  was  one 
of  unusual  interest.  Devout  men  and  women  fol- 
lowed our  departed  friend  to  her  burial,  and  made 
great,  but  sincere  lamentation  over  her.  'The 


416 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


widows  stood  by  weeping,'  and  the  young  people 
of  the  classes  testified,  by  their  presence  and  tears, 
what  had  been  done  for  them  '  while  she  was  with 
them.'  The  language  of  every  heart  that  witnessed 
these  solemnities  appeared  to  be,  '  Blessed  are  the 
dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth  :  Yea, 
saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  la- 
bors ;  and  their  works  do  follow  them.'  " 

About  a  week  before  the  sainted  spirit  entered 
into  rest,  when  familiarly  anticipating  the  event, 
and  making  her  own  arrangements  to  send  dying 
tokens  of  love  to  her  friends,  her  husband  ventured 
to  ask  what  minister  she  would  prefer,  to  improve 
her  decease  to  the  congregation.  "  I  would  rather," 
she  replied,  "it  should  pass  wath  only  ordinary  ob- 
servation, but  as  I  suppose  the  congregation  will 
expect,  from  the  situation  I  occupied,  some  special 
attempt  to  benefit  others — if  Mr.  James  could 
preach  in  the  morning,  to  the  church,  and  Mr. 
Parsons  in  the  evening,  to  the  young  and  to  my 
classes,  my  death  might  yield  some  fruit ;  the  hope 
of  usefulness  alone  induces  me  to  consent  to  any 
arrangement  of  the  kind."  Her  wish  was  commu- 
nicated to  those  honored  servants  of  Christ,  and  on 
the  Lord's-day,  May  28th,  they  most  kindly  car- 
ried out  her  desires — the  Rev.  J.  A.  James  preached 
to  the  members  of  the  church  in  the  morning,  from 
Hebrews  vi.  12,  "  That  ye  be  not  slothful,  but 
followers  of  them  who  through  faith  and  patience 
inherit  the  promises ;"  a  sermon  characterized  by 
fervent  piety  and  powerful  application  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  gospel,  which  the  deceased  adorned, 
to  her  surviving  fellow-believers.  The  hearts  of 
the  hearers  felt  its  spiritual  power,  and  were  melted 
by  its  tender  and  faithful  appeals.  In  the  evening, 
the  Rev.  James  Parsons  preached  to  the  young 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


417 


from  Job  xiv.  2,  "  He  cometh  forth  like  a  flower, 
and  is  cut  down."  The  sermon  was  full  of 
earnest  persuasion,  and  being  delivered  under  a 
full  sense  of  the  responsibility  of  the  hour,  pro- 
duced a  remarkable  impression,  the  saving  fruits  of 
which  have  already  appeared.  On  the  same  oc- 
casion he  asked  what  message  he  should  carry  to 
the  people  when  she  was  taken  from  them;  her 
brief  answer  was,  "  Tell  them  to  love  Christ  and 
one  another — to  labor  for  souls  and  exhibit  holi- 
ness— then  they  must  be  happy." 

Thus  terminated  the  career  of  one  whom  God 
had  graciously  endowed  with  "  largeness  of  heart" 
for  his  service  on  earth — whose  removal  in  the 
prime  of  life  has  excited  the  sober  luxury  of  sancti- 
fied grief — and  whose  eminent  piety  shed  a  lustre 
on  her  character,  and  left  a  beautiful  example  of 
female  devotedness  for  others  to  imitate. 

The  following  description  of  the  funeral  scene, 
and  the  right  method  of  improving  it,  was  written 
by  her  valued  friend,  Joseph  Payne,  Esq. 

MRS.  SHERMAN'S  FUNERAL. 

BY  ONE  WHO  ATTENDED  IT. 

The  sun  look'd  glorious  from  the  heavens — the  sky 

Was  bright,  serene  and  cloudless  ;  and  the  day 

Seemed  fitter  for  a  bridal,  than  the  gloom 

Of  funeral  arrangements,  when  the  good, 

The  gentle,  the  lamented,  the  admir'd, 

Was  "  carried  to  her  burial."* — Crowds  were  there; 

Eager  to  testify  the  love  and  grief 

That  fill'd  their  friendly  bosoms; — rich  and  poor, 

The  charioted  in  splendor,  and  the  lame, 

Supported  by  a  crutch,  were  mingled  then 

In  anxious  emulation  ; — old  and  young 

Vied  with  each  other ;  shops  were  partly  closed ; 

*  Acts  viii.  2. 


418 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE ;  OR 


And  busy  tradesmen  silent  stood,  and  gaz'd. 

On  as  the  funeral  procession  went, 

Group  after  group  it  passed  of  friendly  forms. 

All  hastening  to  the  body's  resting-place. 

The  Sabbath  scholar — and  the  teacher,  too — 

The  mother,  with  her  infant  in  her  arms — 

Her  little  one  beside  her  (round  whose  waist 

Was  tied  a  faded  sash,  which  once  was  black,) 

Trudg'd  on,  regardless  of  the  scorching  heat. 

And  of  the  choking  dust : — their  hearts  were  full; 

And  so  their  bodies  were  not  delicate  ! 

And,  as  it  farther  went,  the  numbers  grew; 

And  sighs  were  heard,  and  eyes  with  tears  were  wet ; 

And  those  who  in  the  sombre  coaches  rode, 

As  they  look'd  forth  upon  the  stirring  scene, 

Said  to  themselves,  and  to  each  other  said, — 

"Truly,  'the  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed!'  "* 

And  when  at  length  they  reach'd  the  destin'd  spot. 

And  in  the  small  and  crowded  chapel  stood. 

The  Word  was  read,  the  voice  of  prayer  was  heard, 

The  hymn  of  praise  arose,  and  the  address, 

Solemn,  instructive,  eloquent,  sincere, 

Gush'd  forth  from  feeling  and  from  friendly  lips. — 

There  sat  the  widower,  binding  to  his  heart 

The  consolations,  "  neither  few  nor  small," 

He  oft  had  preached  to  others  : — there  the  child. 

Of  many  hopeful  feelings,  by  the  hand 

Of  sisterly  affection  kindly  held. 

There,  too,  the  father  look'd,  in  deep  dismay, 

On  the  last  broken  link  of  love's  sweet  chain, 

Which  bound  him  to  the  earth ;  yet  sorrowing  not 

As  one  who  has  no  hope  ! — Awhile  they  paused. 

Then  slowly  sought  the  tomb,  and  to  its  walls 

Resign'd  their  sacred  trust ;  and  softly  sang, 

"Farewell  dear  saint !" — and  then  the  mourners  left. 

Took  off  their  sable  robes,  and  homeward  turn'd, 

To  "  go  about  the  streets"! — as  heretofore  ! 

But  o>ie  look'd  back,  and  in  his  fancy  twin'd 

A  wreath  for  the  departed  ;  tun'd  his  harp, 

And  thus  express'd  the  feelings  of  his  heart : — 

Mourn  for  the  living,  mourn  ; 

But  weep  not  for  the  dead  ; 
They  need  your  tears  from  whom  is  torn 

Their  pattern  and  their  head. 


*  Proverbs  x.  7. 


;  Ecclesiastes  xii.  5. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


419 


But  she,  the  suftering  saint, 
To  whom  release  is  given, 

No  tongue  can  tell,  no  fancy  paint, 
Her  joy  and  peace  in  heaven  ! 

Mourn  for  the  living,  mourn 
For  they  have  lost  a  friend. 

Whose  spirit  is  by  angels  borne 
Where  unions  never  end. 


The  young  she  lov'd  to  teach. 
For  whom  her  heart  was  mov'd  ; 

Her  bright  example  aim'd  to  reach, 
And  while  they  failed,  improv'd 

When  desolate  and  sad, 

The  wretched  sought  her  care; 
A  kind  word  and  a  smile  she  had 

E'en  for  the  meanest  there. 

And  by  her  goodness  mov'd, 
They  loudly  spoke  her  worth; 

Comparing  her  to  Him  who  prov'd 
The  sinner's  friend  on  earth.* 


"  Like  Jesus  Christ" — what  joy, 
To  hear  such  praise  bestow'd 

By  those  for  whom,  in  love's  employ, 
She  sought  each  sad  abode  ! 

Long  to  the  couch  confin'd 

Of  sickness  and  decay. 
Her  form  grew  weaker,  but  the  mind 

Was  strengthened,  day  by  day. 

And  now  and  then  it  seem'd 

As  if  her  glance  had  gain'd, 
Some  glimpse  of  glory  where  it  beam'd. 

Which  on  her  soul  remain'd. 


*  A  lady,  one  Friday  morning,  heard  some  poor  women 
speaking  of  Mrs.  Sherman.  One  of  them  said — "  There  she 
is,  the  dear  creature — she  is  like  Jesus  Christ."  "What  do 
you  mean  ?"  said  another,  "  I  know  she  is  very  good  ;  but  why 
is  she  like  Jesus  Christ?"  "Because,"  replied  the  first,  "she 
never  despises  any  one,  and  has  always  a  smile  and  a  kind 
word  for  the  (loor  " 


^0  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

And  then  such  words  she  spoke 

Of  comfort  and  delight, 
That  clouds  of  gloom  dispers'd  and  broke 

And  all  around  was  bright. 

Pray  for  the  livhig,  pray ; 

Besiege  the  throne  of  God, 
That  all  may  seek  the  upward  way 

Her  careful  footsteps  trod. 

Let  faith  and  hope  to  birth, 

In  every  heart  arise; 
That  those  who  mourn  her  loss  on  earth 

May  join  her  in  the  skies ! 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


421 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

SUMMARY  AND  APPLICATION  OF  HER  CHARACTER. 

The  foregoing  pages  have  furnished  materials  for 
the  reader  to  form  his  own  opinion  of  the  character 
of  the  deceased,  and  they  might,  without  injury  to 
her  memory,  be  left  to  work  their  own  impressions : 
yet,  as  she  lived  to  be  useful,  the  writer  will  be  par- 
doned if  he  aim  to  press  those  graces,  which  were 
so  eminently  conspicuous  in  her,  as  forming  a  bright 
pattern  of  female  excellence.  The  lives  of  many 
individuals  are  published,  whose  intellectual  great- 
ness checks  every  hope  of  attaining  to  their  exalted 
stature ;  the  sublimity  of  their  views  on  divine  sub- 
jects— the  novel  and  important  light  in  which  they 
place  ancient  doctrines,  so  as  to  commend  them  to 
the  judgment  of  unbelievers — the  daring  which 
they  exhibit  in  carrying  out  new  schemes  for  the 
furtherance  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  world 
— and  the  hold  which  their  writings  and  influence 
gain  on  the  population,  fit  them  to  be  leaders.  But 
while  multitudes  read  the  lives  of  such  moral  heroes, 
the  majority,  from  conscious  inferiority,  have  no  in- 
tention ♦to  imitate  their  exploits.  Some  attempt  to 
follow  in  the  same  track ;  but  as  it  soon  becomes 
evident  to  themselves  and  others,  that  they  have 
not  the  requisite  mental  resources,  very  few  attain 
a  similar  elevation ;  the  greater  number  fall  ere 
they  have  reached  a  less  exalted  position,  and  de- 
monstrate they  were  never  designed  to  occupy  it. 
But  the  life  of  Mrs.  Sherman  presents  no  proofs  of 
3G 


422 


THE  PASTOR  S  WIFE;  OR 


mighty  intellect :  her  conduct,  letters,  and  jour- 
nals, only  show  the  Christian  lady  carrying  out  her 
principles  into  practical  operation,  and  therefore 
leave  footsteps  in  the  common  walk  of  life,  in  which 
any  one  may  safely  tread. 

Nature  had  done  much  for  her  in  her  lovely  per- 
son and  attractive  manners,  but  grace  much  more. 
Her  scriptural  knowledge,  and  ability  to  commu- 
nicate it,  either  orally  or  by  letter,  were  not  natu- 
ral, but  acquired.  Her  position  demanded  exertion 
to  obtain  information,  and  she  gave  it ;  she  felt  un- 
equal to  her  solemn  duties,  and  she  prepared  ac- 
cordingly :  thus,  by  the  ordinary  operation  of  in- 
dustry in  the  study  of  the  Scriptures,  and  in 
prayerful  preparation  for  spiritual  engagements,  she 
acquired  acceptableness  and  usefulness  to  which 
few  have  attained.  It  will  be  no  disparagement  to 
her,  to  put  on  record,  that,  previous  to  her  mar- 
riage, no  member  of  her  family  believed  her  to  pos- 
sess the  qualifications  which  she  afterwards  ex- 
hibited. Her  sister,  had  she  been  spared,  bade 
fair,  by  her  mental  endowments  and  literary  ac- 
quirements, to  have  taken  an  influential  position  in 
the  world,  but  the  amiable,  loving,  merry  Martha, 
was  thought  capable  only  of  gracing  a  drawing- 
room,  binding  friends  to  her  by  affection,  and  bene- 
fiting the  poor  by  generosity — such  duties  as 
those,  in  which  she  so  peculiarly  excelled,  were 
among  the  last  for  which  she  was  supposed  to  be 
fitted. 

Now  though  few,  comparatively,  are  placed  in 
her  position,  yet  the  world  and  the  church  are  in 
such  circumstances,  that  it  behooves  every  female  to 
enquire  how  she  can  best  use  her  powers,  for  the 
honor  of  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  her  sex.  Many 
satisfy  themselves  by  pleading  that  they  have  no 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  423 


talent  for  teaching,  for  the  visitation  of  the  poor,  or 


objects ;  yet  they  show  no  deficiency  of  talent  on 
any  other  subject,  and  it  is  rational  to  suppose,  if 
ordinary  means  were  employed  to  qualify  them, 
they  would  be  capable  of  these  services  as  well  as 
others. 

The  ancient  excuse,  I  am  married,  and  cannot 
come  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty,  is 
applicable  to  both  sexes.  Though  chiefly  used  by 
males,  it  is  lamentable  to  see  many  females  who, 
before  marriage,  were  the  ornament  and  hope  of 
the  community  to  which  they  belonged,  become  in- 
active and  indiiTerent  afterwards ;  as  if  their  new 
relation  exempted  them  from  exertion  on  behalf  of 
those  objects  in  which  they  formerly  took  such 
deep  interest.  Far  be  it  from  the  writer  to  mani- 
fest a  want  of  sympathy  in  the  increasing  cares  of 
a  mother  with  a  rising  family,  or  to  intimate  that 
domestic  duties  are  to  be  neglected  for  the  sake  of 
public  services — no,  attention  to  home  is  a  part  of 
her  religion,  and  must  be  considered  her  first  and 
highest  claim,  \%rhich,  if  acknowledged  and  im- 
proved, her  husband  shall  praise  her,  and  her 
children  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed :  but  a 
mother  whose  zeal  for  God  is  according  to  know- 
ledge, will,  by  a  little  early  rising,  by  a  wise  regu- 
lation of  the  duties  of  the  day,  and  by  a  sense  of 
her  responsibility  to  her  Savior,  make  such  arrange- 
ments as  will  secure  a  portion,  if  a  smaller  portion, 
of  her  time  for  assisting  the  operations  of  the  church 
in  the  world. 

Firmness  and  perseverance  were  strong  pecu- 
liarities of  her  mind,  and  gave  stability  and  decision 
to  her  religious  character.  Her  opinions  were  not 
hastily  formed  ;  it  often  required  much  reading  and 


for  collecting  on  behalf  of  religii 


ind  charitable 


424:  THE  pastor's  wife;  or 

argument  to  convince  her ;  but  when  once  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  of  a  theory,  or  of  the  duty  of 
undertaking  any  work  for  God,  however  laborious 
and  difficult,  she  was  immovable.  This  feature  of 
her  disposition  remarkably  contrasted  with  her  na- 
turally amiable  temper,  which,  on  inferior  matters, 
in  which  conscience  was  not  affected,  readily 
yielded  at  any  sacrifice  of  feeling  to  the  opinions, 
and  even  to  the  selfishness  of  others,  while  she 
would  not  give  up  a  point  in  argument  to  the 
dearest  friend,  if  unconvinced.  Hence  fickleness, 
inconstancy,  and  love  of  change  were  almost  un- 
known to  her.  Hence  her  perseverance  with  any 
thing  she  undertook — it  was  not  commenced  till 
she  felt  its  importance,  nor  was  it  abandoned  for 
unforeseen  difficulties.  Hence  her  punctuality  to 
the  time  appointed  for  committee,  class,  or  other 
meetings,  and  the  constant  inculcation  of  this 
grace  on  others.  And  how  important  is  this  fea- 
ture in  any  who  attempt  to  do  good.  "Unstable 
as  water,  thou  shalt  not  excel,"  may  be  applied 
to  some  Christian  females,  as  well  as  to  Reuben. 
They  readily  engage  in  every  new  effort,  but 
after  attending  a  few  meetings  of  committee,  the 
zeal  cools,  and  they  absent  themselves ;  a  new 
theory  has  them  for  advocates,  but  only  long 
enough  to  abandon  it  for  another  more  novel — 
thus  neither  the  church  nor  the  world  are  benefited. 
It  is  better  to  pursue  a  system  of  usefulness  in 
which  some  known  defects  exist,  but  which  is  un- 
derstood, and  by  which  some  good  is  done  ;  than 
to  be  perpetually  changing  times,  instruments,  and 
measures,  with  the  uncertainty  of  their  effective 
operation. 

Few  have  exhibited  a  more  entire  exemption 
from  selfishness.    "  If  all  the  world  were  like  her," 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


42o 


said  a  friend  who  had  known  her  from  infancy, 
"  malice  and  uncharitableness  would  become  obso- 
lete words.  If  I  were  to  describe  her,  I  should  do 
it  negatively,  by  saying  that  she  had  none  of  the 
disagreeables  of  so  many  other  persons."  Her  po- 
liteness would  have  made  her  courteous  without 
grace ;  but  that  regulated  and  refined  it,  so  that  it 
was  the  result  of  principle  obtained  from  the  Cross, 
and  she  "  thus  judged,  that  if  One  died  for  all,  then 
were  all  dead  :  and  that  He  died  for  all,  that  they 
which  live  should  not  henceforth  live  unto  them- 
selves, but  to  Him  that  died  for  them  and  rose 
again."  This  unselfish  feeling  ran  through  the 
whole  of  her  conduct :  it  was  not  reserved  for  state 
occasions,  when  its  exhibition  would  have  elicited 
applause,  but  was  spontaneous  and  natural.  The 
comfort  and  ease  of  all  within  her  house  were  pre- 
ferred to  her  own,  and  a  beggar  would  be  as 
readily  served  as  a  prince.  Often  has  she  called 
forth  the  remonstrances  of  friends,  while  standing 
to  hear  the  tale  of  wo  from  a  poor  person  in  the 
hall,  whose  dirty  condition  forbade  introduction 
into  a  room,  when  her  weakness  rendered  it  dan- 
gerous for  her  to  be  in  such  a  situation.  Her 
sleep,  her  meals,  her  dress,  her  personal  comforts, 
were  relinquished  with  satisfaction,  if  any  one,  es- 
pecially of  God's  children,  required  such  help  as 
they  would  afford.  And  this  is  the  test  by  which 
we  are  to  try  our  discipleship,  "  If  any  man  will 
be  my  disciple,  let  him  deny  himself ;  let  him  take 
up  his  cross  daily  and  follow  me."  By  some  it 
would  be  considered  that  the  subject  of  this  Memoir 
presented  this  feeling  in  excess,  but  how  short — 
how  far  short  did  she  fall  of  the  example  of  Jesus 
Christ,  "  who  was  rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  became 
poor,  that  we  through  his  poverty  might  be  made 
36* 


426 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


rich."  Let  Christian  females  study  this  charac- 
teristic of  our  Divine  Lord,  and  be  assured  that  it 
is  one  of  the  principal  preparations  for  usefulness. 

No  grace  shone  more  conspicuously  in  her  than 
humility.  Every  thing  she  undertook  was  begun 
with  trembling  and  prosecuted  with  fear ;  she  had 
no  confidence  in  herself,  nor  any  leaning  to  her 
own  understanding ;  the  most  childlike  spirit  of  de- 
pendence on  her  Heavenly  Father,  characterized 
her  entire  course  of  life.  When  a  letter  was  read 
to  her,  a  few  weeks  before  her  death,  containing 
an  allusion  to  the  bright  example  she  had  set,  she 
remarked  "  I  cannot  understand  what  they  mean. 
They  have  drawn  a  j)icture  in  their  imagination  of 
what  they  think  I  ought  to  be  as  a  minister's  wife, 
and  then  have  persuaded  themselves  that  I  resemble 
it,  because  they  do  not  know  me."  Such  language 
in  the  lips  of  some,  would  be  a  hint  for  flattery,  but 
in  her,  the  transparent  sincerity  with  which  it  was 
uttered,  was  visible  to  all,  and  her  whole  conduct 
demonstrated,  that  she  believed  the  lowest  place 
suited  her  best.  On  an  occasion  when  a  similar 
remark  was  made  by  a  friend,  she  replied — "Alas! 
that  any  one  should  think  my  imperfect  walk,  every 
step  of  which  needs  cleansing  in  my  Savior's  blood, 
suitable  for  imitation.  I  can  only  answer  in  the 
sentiments  of  Cowper. 

"  Since  the  dear  hour,  that  brought  me  to  thy  foot, 
And  cut  up  all  my  follies  by  the  root, 
I  never  trusteil  in  an  arm  but  thine, 
Nor  hoped  but  in  thy  righteousness  divine; 
My  prayers  and  alms,  imperfect  and  defil'd, 
Were  but  the  feeble  efforts  of  a  child; 
Howe'er  pcrformM,  it  was  their  brightest  part 
That  they  proceeded  from  a  grateful  heart: 
Cleans'd  in  thine  own  all  purifying  blood, 
Forgive  their  evil,  and  accept  their  good; 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN. 


427 


I  cast  them  at  thy  feet — my  only  plea 
Is  what  it  was, dependence  upon  thee; 
While  struggling  in  the  vale  of  tears  below 
That  never  fail'd,  nor  shall  it  fail  me  now." 

The  apostle  lays  emphasis  on  this  grace  as  a 
special  ornament  of  the  female  character — "  Whose 
adorning,  let  it  not  be  that  outward  adorning  of 
plaiting  the  hair,  and  of  wearing  of  gold,  or  of 
putting  on  of  apparel,  but  let  it  be  the  hidden  man 
of  the  heart,  in  that  which  is  not  corruptible,  even 
the  ornament  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit  which  is  in 
'  the  sight  of  God  of  great  price."  She  that  would 
do  good  must  be  content  to  stoop  to  the  humble 
and  needy,  must  condescend  to  their  position,  and 
sacrifice  feeling  and  habits  to  get  at  their  preju- 
dices, and  convey  truth  to  their  minds.  O,  how 
condescending  was  Jesus  Christ — how  readily  he 
talked  to  a  leper,  listened  to  the  domestic  trials  of 
parents,  or  took  the  children  of  the  poor  in  his 
arms.  Let  us  imitate  him  ;  for  a  proud  heart,  like 
a  high  mountain,  is  sure  to  be  an  unfruitful  place. 

"  Grace  be  with  all  them  who  love  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity,"  she  adopted  as  her 
motto,  and  exhibited  in  her  conduct.  Her  house, 
her  table,  her  purse,  were  open  to  all  who  bore  the 
likeness  of  her  Savior.  She  dared  not  refuse  com- 
munion with  any  whom  the  Master  had  received, 
on  account  of  denominational  peculiarities.  Of  all 
such,  she  could  say — 

"  Whate'er  their  country  or  their  name. 
With  them  when  privileged  to  meet, 

Kindred  and  fellowship  I  claim, 

And  converse  hold  communion  sweet; 

For  still  my  heart  will  truly  move, 

Towards  all  who  love  the  Lord  I  love." 

Never  can  the  writer  forget  her  joy,  when  a 


428 


THE  pastor's  wife  ;  OR 


native  Chinese  convert,  with  Dr.  Medhurst,  from 
China,  Tzatzoe,  an  African  chief,  and  Stoffels,  a 
converted  Hottentot,  Dr.  Cheever,  and  Mr.  Kirk, 
from  America,  and  others  from  the  continent  of 
Europe,  dined  together  at  the  Parsonage.  She  ob- 
served to  Dr.  Medhurst,  "  This  party  not  only 
prefigures  the  Millennium,  but  is  an  epitome  of  it. 
Here  are  native  representatives  from  the  four  quar- 
ters of  the  globe,  all  converted  to  Christ,  and  sup- 
porting his  kingdom  in  their  several  countries. 
Heaven  itself  will  only  be  an  enlargement  of  such 
a  group."  And  they  who  would  be  useful  must 
cultivate  this  spirit.  Denominationalism  has  ruled 
too  long.  Reading  only  the  books  written  by  one 
sect,  or  meeting  only  the  friends  who  think  exactly 
with  us,  enfeebles  the  mind  and  cramps  its  energies. 
There  are  men  of  God  in  every  division  of  the 
Christian  church,  at  whose  feet  it  would  become 
any  of  us  to  sit,  and  we  lose  that  enlargement  of 
heart,  that  love  of  the  Spirit,  which  embraces  "  the 
whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth,"  if  we  do  not 
cultivate  acquaintance  with  all,  and  extract  what  is 
good  from  their  several  modes  of  worship,  their 
Christian  intercourse,  and  their  exertions  for  the 
conversion  of  the  world,  and  insert  them  in  our 
stereotyped  forms  and  habits. 

But,  after  all,  the  great  secret  of  her  power  with 
her  classes  and  the  church,  lay  in  her  fervent  piety, 
a  faith  that  embraced,  and  fed  upon  the  living  truths 
of  the  gospel,  and  intimate  communion  with  God, 
which  no  engagements  were  suffered  to  curtail. 
Details  have  been  furnished,  which  sufficiently 
prove  this  fact,  and  her  family  are  witnesses  how 
constantly  her  spirit  seemed  filled  with  the  fullness 
of  God,  and  what  sacrifice?;  of  bodily  ease  she  made 
for  the  continuance  of  that  heavenly  fellowship. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  429 


This  gave  her  influence — unconscious  influence. 
Though  her  exertions  were  great,  she  accomplished 
more  by  what  she  was,  than  by  what  she  did. 
Her  spiritual  character  gave  an  element  of  silent 
power  to  her  eff'orts,  which  was  the  chief  cause  of 
their  efficacy.  An  influence,  unconsciously  to  her- 
self, was  always  operating  on  others  with  whom 
she  came  in  contact.  They  felt,  they  saw,  they 
heard  that  influence,  and  fell  under  it,  but  probably 
were,  equally  with  herself,  unconscious  of  its  exer- 
cise, and  quite  unable  to  describe  its  character.  As 
the  light,  which  gives  no  shock,  and  utters  no  roar, 
silently  but  effectually  chases  away  the  darkness, 
and  restores  the  world  to  beauty  and  cheerfulness, 
stealing  on  us  gradually  and  almost  insensibly,  so 
the  Christian,  who  shines  the  brighter  from  sitting 
in  heavenly  places,  where  he  may  more  fully  catch 
the  beams,  and  reflect  the  light  of  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness,  will  disperse  the  darkness  of  pre- 
judice, command  the  homage  of  respect,  and  excite 
the  desire  for  imitation  in  those  by  whom  he  is  sur- 
rounded. 

The  testimony  of  one  to  the  practical  power  of 
this  silent  influence,  may  illustrate  and  confirm 
these  remarks.  "  I  felt,"  said  a  young  lady,  "  the 
importance  of  religion,  before  I  entered  Mrs.  Sher- 
man's class ;  but  it  was  not  till  I  saw  the  happiness 
she  diff"used  around  her,  that  I  was  led  to  ask  my- 
self the  question,  '  Why  cannot  I  be  as  amiable  in 
my  family  as  Mrs.  Sherman,  and  make  others  as 
happy  as  she  does  ?'  and  to  form  the  resolution — 
'  I  will  try' — and  if  I  have  at  all  succeeded,  the 
effort  and  the  success  are  entirely  owing  to  her 
lovely  example."  All  therefore  who  would  be 
blessings  must  settle  it  in  their  hearts,  that  they 
must  first  seek  to  be  blessed.    Station,  education. 


430 


THE  pastor's  wife;  or 


talent,  are  allowed  to  have  certain  influence,  but 
not  so  great  as  is  generally  supposed.  Had  our 
Savior  thought  much  of  them,  He  would  have  se- 
lected a  higher  class  than  fishermen  to  proclaim 
his  gospel,  and  lay  the  foundations  of  his  kingdom. 
"  Knowledge  is  power,"  has  become  a  household 
phrase,  but  it  is  feebleness  itself,  compared  with 
piety.  "If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?" 
Therefore,  the  renovation  of  the  most  degraded  of 
our  species,  and  the  sanctification  of  the  unholiest, 
which  the  scientific  have  failed  to  accomplish,  have 
been  effected  by  the  humble  Christian.  Oh,  ye 
females,  who  are  the  ornaments  of  our  churches, 
and  the  most  powerful  helpers  in  establishing  the 
kingdom  of  Christ,  suffer  the  word  of  exhortation. 
You  cannot  speak  like  men — nor  rule  like  him 
"  who  was  first  formed  ;"  but  you  have  influence 
of  your  own,  which  all  acknowledge — the  more 
mighty,  because  the  more  gentle — the  more  effica- 
cious, because  the  less  visible.  The  most  potent 
agents  in  nature  are  the  most  simple  and  noiseless 
— the  least  seen  and  the  most  mysterious — yet  they 
are  in  constant  and  mighty  operation.  And  if  by 
walking  in  the  light  as  He  is  in  the  light,  you  have 
fellowship  one  with  another  and  can  declare,  "The 
Lord  is  my  light  and  ray  salvation,  whom  shall  I 
fear  ?" — if  from  continued  application  to  the  foun- 
tain opened  you  can  with  confidence  avow,  "  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son,  clcanseth  us  from  all 
sin," — if  from  repeated  experience  of  His  gracious 
assistance,  you  can  invite  troubled  minds  to  your 
friend,  saying,  "Behold,  God  is  my  helper ;" — if 
from  daily  meditation  on  the  "  mystery  of  godli- 
ness," you  become  rooted  and  built  up  in  Christ, 
and  established  in  the  faith  of  the  gospel  and  can 
affirm  "  I  know  whom  I  have  believed,  and  am 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  SHERMAN.  431 


persuaded  that  He  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have 
committed  to  Him," — if  under  conscious  weakness 
and  infirmity,  as  Asa,  you  know  not  what  to  do, 
but  the  eye  of  your  faith  is  cast  up  to  the  mediato- 
rial throne,  and  your  heart  and  lips  avow,  "  I  will 
go  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord  God,  I  will  make 
mention  of  his  righteousness,  even  of  his  only" — 
then,  like  Deborah,  you  will  accompany  the  Lord's 
servants,  and  share  their  honor  in  fighting  his  bat- 
tles— like  Hannah,  you  will  exalt  the  Lord's 
anointed" — like  the  Shunamite,  you  will  plead 
for  the  society  of  the  prophet  in  your  house,  and 
see  his  prayers  answered  in  your  children — like 
Mary,  you  will  rejoice  in  God  your  Savior — like 
Elizabeth,  you  will  walk  in  all  the  ordinances  and 
commandments  of  the  Lord  blameless — like  Susan- 
nah, the  wife  of  Herod's  steward,  you  will  minister 
to  Christ  of  your  substance — like  Martha,  you  will 
receive  Him  into  your  house,  and  who  can  tell? 
have  your  brother  raised  to  spiritual  life,  and  sit  at 
the  table  with  Him — like  Phoebe,  you  will  become 
the  servant  of  the  Church,  and  like  Tryphena  and 
Tryphosa,  labor  much  in  the  Lord.  "Favor  is 
{leceitful  and  beauty  is  vain,  but  a  woman  that 
feareth  the  Lord,  she  shall  be  praised." 


i 


